Put in a ceiling fan for better climate control photo by william enos.
Attic ceilings finishing.
Finishing your attic can add space and utility and increase the value of your home as long as it s done properly.
At least 50 step 2 make sure the attic has a full size staircase.
For a finished attic to be to code it must satisfy the same living requirements of other rooms sometimes called the rule of sevens any living space in a home needs to have at least 7 feet 2 1 m of clearance from the floor to the ceiling and there needs to be at least 70 square feet of space available at least 7 feet 2 1 m in each direction.
Here are some must do tips to follow when finishing your attic.
The plywood will create a smooth strong ceiling without having to apply drywall tape and mud to the ceiling.
Most codes require a specified minimum amount of headroom and it s tough to meet this requirement when insulating a finished attic especially since most codes require insulation equal to r 38 or more.
This attic was divided into three zones.
Run the plywood down to the top of the knee wall.
Step 1 framing of the top and sides of the knee wall.
Step 1 check the ceiling height.
Make sure the fill s depth is uniform across the attic.
In general stairs must be at least 3 feet wide and provide at least 6 feet 8 inches of headroom.
A bedroom dressing area and master bathroom.
Stairs can take up a lot of space in both the attic and in the floor below so they are important considerations for planning.
Fasten blocking around the hatch or door to allow the material to be installed around this area without escaping.
To make it easy to eyeball how level the material is as you blow it in screw depth guides to joists throughout the space.
Flip the reverse switch in wintertime and it will push warmer air down to keep you cozy.
If you ve got headroom a fan will make a finished attic more comfortable in warmer months by giving you a cool breeze indoors.
The attic floor which is the ceiling of the living space below often already is insulated.
Finished attics need stairs that meet all of the standard staircase requirements.
The location of the top of the knee is marked and after checking the level long boards are attached to the ceiling joists.
To meet all three goals insulating your finished attic ventilating the roof and maximizing headroom use a combination of dense batt insulation rigid foam sheeting and air chutes.
Building code also requires that the.
Use screws to attach sheets of birch plywood to the angled ceiling over the insulation making sure to drive the screws into the ceiling joists.
In the first step a knee wall is installed.
Select attic lighting photo by alan shortall.
Now let s read about the steps for properly finishing the attic walls and ceiling.
