If you have been thinking of extending your living space in the home an attic room is a good idea to give you that extra square footage. It can be used equally well as a general loft storage area or if you want to make an extra bedroom perhaps with en suite facilities, or simply just a chill out area.

The first step is to talk to your local council to determine if any building permits or planning permission are required before you start remodelling your home, especially if you will be making modifications to any structural elements of the building.

You will need to evaluate the attic space and joists to see if they are going to be strong enough to support traffic from use and the weight of things being stored or furniture being used in the living space before you begin to make any further plans for your attic conversion. They can be reinforced relatively easy if needed. I suggest that you expose all of the joists from within your attic space by removing any loft boards and insulation so you can see all round the joists themselves.

If the ceiling joists are spaced incorrectly they will need to be adjusted so that weight can be evenly distributed and not put too much strain on too few joists. The same joists that support the ceiling of your rooms will become the flooring joists for the attic room and less is needed to support a ceiling from below than day to day use as a floor from above. The ideal scenario is 2×6″ joist for each 16 inches of floor space. If they are spaced 18 to 24 inches apart like in older properties, you will need to insert an extra joist in between each of them by fixing a joist hanger to the beam or trimmer joist, then secure the 2×6 wooden joists to it.

Another important step to take is to make sure that the foundation and integrity of the exterior walls are in good condition as the extra weight of secondary storage can be quite heavy. Reinforcement may be needed if they are not in excellent condition. It would be a good idea to have a contractor to evaluate the situation. Professional help is always the best way to go about things, it would be very costly if thing went wrong, but localtraders.com can make finding a reputable builder to provide a competitive quote for your loft conversion quick and easy. Just submit your details today.

Related posts:

1. Considerations When Planning a Loft Extension or Attic Conversion
2. Different Options When Considering a Loft Conversion
3. Different Types of Dormer Windows and When to Use Them
4. Creating Additional Living Accommodation: Garage Conversions
5. Creating Extra Living Space