Raising the Roof: Turning an Attic Into a Living Space

What began as an awkward space can end as a reading nook, playroom, or handy storage area.

Attic renovations can turn raw, unfinished spaces into organized, livable areas. BY-_-BY/Shutterstock

Finishing the attic starts with the rule of sevens if it’s going to be living space. This means that it must have a ceiling height of seven feet and a width of at least seven feet for at least 70 square feet to provide comfortable, usable headroom. An area of seven feet by 10 feet is common.

The exception to this rule is if the attic is going to be used solely for storage—an endeavor that may pay for itself quickly when you consider the savings on a rental storage space.

Load Bearing

Whether finishing an attic for living space or simply laying a plywood floor for storage, it’s important to make sure that the floor joists are up to the anticipated load, including flooring, walls, furniture, and the weight of people walking on it. Joists that are two inches by six inches and two inches by eight inches likely aren’t enough, but 2-by-10-inch joists or 2-by-12-inch joists are better. Likewise, existing 16-inch on center and 24-inch on center joist spacing may be a concern.