The wasted potential of our attic spaces is often one of the first areas to attract our attention when we embark on renovating our homes. After all, this is a space that spans your property, and it could serve as anything from a hidden-away study, to the most stylish spare bedroom your guests have ever seen.
However, if your attic is currently a space for storage and exposed roof beams, then renovation here is also a bigger undertaking than you might realize. In fact, you’ll probably need to put in a fair amount of work here before you can even embark on this project.
If you’re keen to get started, simply consider the following steps you might want to take in the leadup to tackling an attic renovation at last.
# 1 – Get a Tape Measure
There’s no point imagining your dream attic renovation if you don’t have the space to make it happen. So, before your renovation is even an established twinkle in your eye, you’ll want to get up the ladder with a tape measure.
Ideally, experts recommend following the 7 and 7 rule for attics, which means that at least half of your finished attic should have a height and width of seven feet to ensure it’s fully usable. Taking measurements and factoring for things like flooring in advance can give you a rough idea of whether you’d be able to adhere to the rule.
If yes, then you’re good to go. If not, then you might be better off considering alternatives or opting for space-creating dormer renovations.
# 2 – Sort Your Roof
There’s no point embarking on an attic renovation if you’re dealing with roofing issues like missing tiles. Doing so would only lead to dampness, and may even result in having to undo a lot of your hard renovation work during a roofing refit.
As soon as you know that you have the space for an attic conversion, it’s therefore worth contacting professional roofers, who can conduct an initial inspection to identify any weak spots. In an ideal world, addressing small issues now will secure your attic renovation later on.
Even if you end up receiving the news that you need an entire roofing replacement, it’s worth using some of your renovation funds for this purpose now so you don’t have to worry later on once work starts and it’s too late.
# 3 – Apply for a Permit
If you’re almost ready to go ahead with your renovation, it’s time to apply for a building permit to ensure that your new attic is fully in keeping with local regulations.
Even if you don’t intend to start work straight away, getting the ball rolling on this process early is key to ensuring that you plan your project around the approval granted. Once your permit is authorized, you’ll then have around 180 days to actually bring your attic reno to life.
Got your eye on an attic renovation? It’s past time you started tackling these tasks!
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