Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [attic-conversion]

46 questions
16
votes
3 answers

Is it possible to convert a truss attic into living space?

What are some options for converting a trussed roof into living space? My understanding (please correct me if I am wrong) is that the following needs to be taken into consideration: proper floor joists need to be installed/sistered. Knee wall…
DA01
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Are these roof members structural support?

I’m fairly new to DIY home improvement. Are these arrowed parts structural support? I’m looking to vault the ceiling below but I’m not sure if I need to involve an engineer.
Eli Parker
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2 answers

Will my roof construction allow attic flooring?

I am looking to add plywood flooring in my attic for storage page. There is a lot of space, very large areas. From what I've been reading, it looks to be ill-advised to add flooring if the roof was constructed with trusses instead of rafters (one…
jeefreak
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3
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1 answer

Putting up a curtain rail on a dormer wall

We have a loft conversion with a dormer and a window in the wall of the dormer. I'd like to put up some curtains, but I'm not sure how to attach the curtain rail. The dormer walls are described as: 12.5mm foil-backed plasterboard 35mm Gyproc…
Chris
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3
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3 answers

Should there be a junction box for each outlet?

I want to install external outlets to my attic. The wiring will be in conduit. Is it better to have a junction box for each outlet as illustrated below as A, or is there a simple solution to avoid them for each outlet, as illustrated in B below?
Mikki
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2 answers

What insulation should I use in the ceiling of my attic

I'm currently finishing my attic and I am wondering what insulation I should use in the ceiling. I was planning on using R38 or higher in the vertical and horizontal sections but in the angled sections I don't have a lot of room. They are 2x8s and…
Brian Kalski
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3
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2 answers

Permitting a finished attic during home sale

I'm currently working on buying a house out in rural eastern North Carolina, USA. The house has a finished attic, which apparently was never permitted or inspected. Because of this, my appraisal has come in way below the agreed upon price (since…
John Chrysostom
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3
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2 answers

Ceiling joists hung below top plate

Exploring the possibility of turning the attic of our 100-year-old house into a living space. I knew the joists were only 2x6 and would need to be strengthened through interlacing. But when I pulled up some floor boards at the edge, I found that the…
Aeryk
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2
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2 answers

Understanding the concerns with vented to unvented retrofit of attic

I am working within a generally hot and humid location that might become quite cold, but only briefly in the winter (zone 3 below the humid line). I recently inherited an A-frame house that has blown in over-ceiling cellulose insulation in the…
Atl LED
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2
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3 answers

Can you install loft flooring on rafter ties?

I'm looking to floor the loft of my house for some light storage (mostly decorations and clothes) and have a potential idea that would not only give a better finished result but also save some time and materials in the process. Through research and…
RyanfaeScotland
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2 answers

What can I do with these roof trusses to cover them up a bit?

Relating to another question about loft conversion I also want to fill up the gaps in between the trusses on which the roof tiles lie on. So during allot of build I heard here and there that some lofts should not completely seal off the space…
Piotr Kula
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Converting attic to living space

I have an open attic with 2x8 ceiling joists, 16" on center. I would like to convert this space to low-traffic living space, eventually to house a model railroad layout. No bedroom, no bathroom, no real seating, just one large open area with the…
John
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1 answer

Insulating finished attic

I have half of a 100 year old twin in SE Pennsylvania. The house isn’t too big and I’d like to turn the attic into living space. It is a walk up and about 800sf. The roof is pitched quite steep but it has about 12’ high ceilings in the center so…
John
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Insulation and added timbers in attic problem

I have stripped most of the attic (was an unregistered conversion) and the rafters have what seems to be additional timber on them which aligned with the previous wall/roof covering. The timbers impede the straight runs of about 400mm wide by…
AlexReno
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1
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4 answers

Advice needed for choosing drop-down attic ladders

We are going to install a drop-down attic ladder for easier access to storage. I don't know anyone with one of these however and none of the local home improvement stores have any on display, they are all special order items so I can't go in and…
Jon
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