Build House And Finish Attic Later

If the attic passes the space test chances are you can make everything else work but there are a few other big issues to consider before getting serious about finishing.

Build house and finish attic later.

In rare cases especially in new construction homes the attic may have been built unfinished with the correct flooring in place with the idea that the homeowner could later on finish the space. So if you re planning to get a few years of use out of it the investment might make more sense. Finishing the attic into liveable space nets an average of 9 3 out of 10 joy score or sense of happiness the owners have upon completion on nar s renovation report. In most cases though the joists cannot support live loads and may not even be covered with boards.

If you re finishing your attic insulating it to the proper r value can cause a dramatic loss of headroom if you limit yourself to fiberglass batts. Once you have a permit install subfloor panels over the floor joists so you can lay down flooring. What are the pros and cons if any. Of course we don t want an in law suite but i was wondering if it makes sense to convert it into bedrooms and a play area later.

Ie build the house now without finishing the attic and then later complete it. Attic renovations require homeowners to finish an otherwise unfinished space and is not the same as remodeling other rooms in your house. Whether you envision your house s top floor as an away from it all master suite a quiet home office or a hangout spot for the kids read these 14 tips to help you finish your attic remodel. Every attic is different but a few established norms and practices will guide your renovation.

Before finishing an attic get the necessary permits from your local housing commission so you don t get in trouble later on if you try to sell your house. However in some cases the joists are intentionally built strong enough for the homeowner to later build out the attic. Keep in mind that all building requirements for the project are governed by the local building authority and local code rules. Most houses attics are built without flooring and are not designed to carry the heavy load of finished space.

To meet all three goals insulating your finished attic ventilating the roof and maximizing headroom use a combination of dense batt insulation rigid foam sheeting and air chutes. Reclaiming the space under your roof also avoids many zoning and easement concerns common chores when adding onto a house. Account for codes and safety photo by casey dunn. The total cost of an attic renovation includes the labor cost of contractors inspection fees license fees and materials.