Understanding your attic space options and limitations is essential to maximizing its living space. The most important factor in designing attic space is determining the exact dimensions of the existing interior space and being able to calculate the finish dimensions after floor buildup and ceiling build down. As you look at your attic space and dream of its potential, there are a few things to consider:

Ø Windows. Skylights can bring in much needed light without the expense of dormers, or pop-out windows.

Ø Exit. Incorporating egress, or an emergency exit, is highly recommended for the space, even if you don’t plan to use the attic as a bedroom. Any time spent in the attic space without egress is “borrowed time.”

Ø Rafters. Spending the time and money to even out the surface of the interior rafters is a must. Roofs are built to be even on the top of the rafters, not bottom. Hips and valleys make the bottom side very uneven. Increasing the rafter depth or building down the rafters decreases headroom and floor space, but it ensures a clean ceiling line and all the odd angles in an attic space. It’s expensive but necessary. If not done, it can result in improper attic ventilation and insulation, drywall and tape problems, and a very poor finished look.

Ø HVAC. HVAC systems must be extended or, better yet, zoned for an attic space. They will be much warmer in the summer and winter than any thermostatically controlled floor below it.

Ø Stairs. The space taken away from the floor below the attic to build a proper staircase to the attic must be considered.  If an area above the home’s existing staircase can be utilized, that is the least invasive and may remove only a closet from that floor. In some instances, however, it means an entire bedroom is taken away.

Ø Walls. From a design perspective, knowing where to stop the slope of the roof and come down with walls is quite the challenge. Closets are a good point to make this transition. But with the continuing slope of the roof, it’s important to know just how “low you can go.”  Traffic patterns and furniture placement is extremely important otherwise those valleys can be head bumpers.

Ø Floor Support. Support for the attic floor must be calculated correctly for the live-load requirement. Most ceiling joists are 2 x 6, but they are only carrying the plaster or drywall finish. Once an area becomes living space, the load calculations change completely. If the load is not supported, the ceilings below the attic will show wear and tear. Plaster will crack, and drywall will start with nail pops and eventually tape joints will crack.

Ø Collar Ties. Collar ties, or the wood that horizontally connects opposite roof rafters, are another challenge. They are typically set at two-thirds the distance from the ceiling to stiffen the roof structure. They may not be located at ceiling height, and it’s assumed they could be moved up. This two-thirds distance is the maximum height a collar tie can be placed. Above that height, the roof structure is marginalized. The only proper way around this dilemma is a heavier ridge beam to support the roof load or engineered midpoint walls that will take the place of the collar tie.

Without careful planning, both contractor and homeowner can be caught off-guard and unhappy with the results.

Tom Attic Remodeling, remodeling remodeling in st. louis

Last week, my son Bill and I attended a one day course called “Business Management for Building Professionals” at the St. Louis Home Builders Association.  It is a required course for all those seeking to become Certified Green Professionals.  Being a Certified Graduate Remodelor exempted me from having to take the course but Bill needed it for his Green designation.  I took it for the continuing education credits and because I thought I just might learn something.  The Certified Green Professional course followed the next two consecutive days.  I’m proud to say that Bill is the second CGP at Riggs Construction & Design.

There were about 25 people in attendance and only 4 considered themselves remodeling contractors.  Others were home builders, educators, real estate associates and a group from Laclede Gas.  About half were from out of town because St. Louis was as close as they could find the course.  When I took the CGP course a couple of years ago, there were about 75 people in the class and only two were from St. Louis!  Some traveled as far as Montana and Washington State to take the course.

Needless to say, I was very surprised not to see more remodeling contractors attending this course!  Green construction is not a trend or the “hot” topic that will fade with time.  It is here to stay and long overdue.  It seems that our area builders and remodelers are way behind the curve when it comes to understanding how important green building has become.  Our consumer is certainly aware of its importance because we get asked all the time about how they can incorporate green into their projects.  Although the courses are expensive and times are tough, it seems to me that becoming a CPG is an investment in the future of any construction company.

Tom Green Remodeling, remodeling Green Remodeling, remodeling in st. louis