Conversion of attic is a process by which an empty attic space can be transformed into a functional area or room, which can be used as a bathroom, bedroom, play room, kid’s room, storage room, gym room, etc. Owing to their numerous benefits, it is a very popular form of home improvement.
It provides you with added space so that you don’t feel that you live in a house which is cramped up.
It helps to raise the value of your existing property.
It prevents from causing any kind of inconvenience to the family, as they do not have to move to a new home and locality.
It is much cheaper than buying a bigger house.
It helps you to live in peace in your own home.
The many advantages that one gets out of an attic conversion can be extremely tempting, but prior to starting the conversion project, one has to make sure whether the project is feasible or not. How do you do that? Here are some of the basic requirements to ensure that you can have a successful conversion:
Inspect the attic room thoroughly and check how much of a headroom space is available. To convert an attic into a habitable place, you would require 2.1 meters of minimum headroom space.
Check the roof of the attic for any damage caused by rainwater. If there are visible black patches, it means that the problem persists, and that should be taken care of before commencing on the conversion project. Also, check for leaks and cracks on the roof.
Since the attic is a room which is just below the roof, it will be slightly warmer and colder during summer and winter months, respectively, than the other rooms in the house. For this reason, the attic should be properly insulated to create a comfortable living atmosphere.
If you have been using a pull-down stairs to climb up and down the attic, then you will have to change that and add a staircase which is permanent. While adding a staircase, one has to consider about what lies below, how much space the staircase would be taking up, whether they will interrupt the flow of the other rooms, etc.
Have a clear idea about what kind of usable living space do you want to convert your attic into. Take help from experienced and reputable companies who have the required knowledge in order to get the best assistance and to protect yourself from over-spending. The professionals will be able to perfectly guide you and answer all your queries to your satisfaction.
Find out if you need to apply for planning permission for conversion of your attic.
The above points are only the basics of conversion which are required to check the feasibility of the project. Conversions are growing in popularity as we speak, because of their many benefits, affordability and the convenience of the homeowner to be able to get free space in their own home without having to go through the stressful process of moving. Also, the value of the house increases by an approximate 20%. It’s a win-win situation for the homeowners, in case they opt for this option to improve their home and add value to it.