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Attic Living Space: Many treasures can be found in the attic, and not just old family heirlooms either. Some fortunate people are discovering much needed living space! In many cases, an attic remodel can be easier and cheaper than building a home addition or moving.

To see if a attic remodel is possible for your home the first thing to look for is whether your attic has rafters or trusses. Framing with rafters allows for more open space. If you've got rafters, your attic can likely accommodate remodeling.

Trusses on the other hand can not be altered and do not offer enough open space in the attic for habitable rooms.

Sometimes it is necessary to alter the support system that is in place before the rooms are created. In such cases it is important to consult a engineer or architect. The goal is to create a simple, safe and straightforward design that is economically feasible.

In order for the attic space to be livable and useful each room should be about 70 to 100 square feet or better. In accord with most building codes, half of the usable floor space should have a ceiling height of at least 71/2 feet to 8 feet. Usable floor space includes areas that have a ceiling height of least 5 feet.

Dormers are the best way of adding both headroom and floor space. They not only add space, but they also give light, ventilation and visual interest to the attic living space!

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