Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [attic-conversion]

36 questions
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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2 angle braces on attic of a gable roof

My house in Northern California has a gable roof. In the attic, there are two 2x4 angle braces (one at each gable end) that connect from the ceiling joist (gable-end) to the ridge board (mid-span). Please see photo to understand what I mean. What is…
Son Nguyen
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Can I lay an attic floor over electrical wires?

I've been told that the electrical wires in the roof can heat up and potentially start fires if you cover them up. How can I get around this to lay the floor for an attic? The type of floor is just chip-wood since I'm just using the space for…
Lawson
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Can this joist support be replaced with plywood?

The attic above my garage has several of these horizontal support beams across the ceiling joists, I assume to keep them from bowing. I’d like to put down plywood across the whole floor without these because they’re a tripping hazard. Are these…
Chris Mendez
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Finishing an attic, building codes, layout possibilities

Our attic is entirely unfinished - exposed floor and wall studs. It has windows and is wired for a single light fixture. There is a fixed staircase up to the attic from the second floor where 19.5 is on the diagram below. I've done some basic code…
Drew
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Main Floors uneven after attic conversion

We hired a contractor to convert our attic into living space. Long story, short...he was a nightmare and left with out doing any of the finish. Now, the floor joists on the first floor are raising causing the hardwood floors to be like a roller…
Roberta
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