Use Your Attic Space to Increase Your Living Space
Today, attic space is more important than grandma’s attic, full of relics, old pictures, and fun old stuff to look at. The condition of our economy calls for creative ways to live better and more economically. Attic space is one of the most logical and affordable ways to increase needed living areas.
No excavation is needed for foundation or new construction addition. If your home was built with trusses, you will need to put beams in different locations. You should consider hiring a contractor or get an architect or engineer to get proper structure support. The size of your dormer will depend on how many rooms and windows you need. Don’t forget you need to have fire exit windows in case of fire.
For space consideration alone, you will find this type of full dormer more advantageous and economical than building twin gable-type dormers. Though they add window area and some space, they will still leave completely slanting upstairs ceilings and will not increase the cubic content of your attic area.
A major advantage in renovating your attic into living area is the opportunity to increase your insulation R-Factor to new code or above. This will pay for itself in a couple of years in heating and cooling expenses.
When finishing your attic, don’t forget to use the slanting sides to construct a built-in attic closet. You can make as much closet or storage space as you like, putting doors for entrances.
But finally, the best reason to use your attic space to expand your home needs is that every square foot that you add is added to your existing footage.
For example if you had 1000 sq. ft., at $100.00 value, your house was worth $100,000.00. If you added 600 sq. ft., your house is now worth $160,000.00.
If instead you finished 600 sq. ft. of your basement, you might get back some value, 20% to 50%, but it does not count as part of the total square footage of the house unless your basement is more than 50% above ground and with large enough windows for fire exit code.
Walk-in basement also does not count in square footage.
In conclusion, if you like the area you live in, school district and friends in the neighborhood, it makes good sense to use your attic space rather than have to sell your home. Selling your home is time consuming and you may have to pay real estate fees, moving expense and still adapt your new home to your family’s needs.
