How to Finish an Attic

The cost to finish an attic is $4,600 to $16,400, with an average cost of $10,500. This comes out to about $30 to $60 per square foot. The total cost of your attic conversion will depend on the different elements your project needs.

Are you upgrading your home to increase your return on investment (ROI)? Finishing your attic is a great way to add resale value. On average, an attic renovation has a 56% ROI. You can add an extra story to your home without building out a new floor.

When converting your attic to living space, it’s important to note your attic must meet the same building requirements as the other rooms in your home. The attic needs to:

• Have at least 7 feet of vertical clearance in the majority of the room
• Be a minimum of 7 feet wide
• Have at least 70 square feet of space available
• Be accessible by a full-size staircase
• Have another exit in case of an emergency, typically an easily accessible window. Missing a window? Install a dormer for an easy fix!

If your attic is only accessible from a ladder or a pull-down staircase, you will need to build a permanent staircase before you can use it as anything more than storage space.

Reach out to your local municipality to see if you need a permit for your attic remodel. A permit is usually only needed if:

• You are adding electrical wiring or ventilation
• You plan to change the structure of your home in the process, such as knocking down an existing wall or adding a dormer

If your attic does not already have ductwork, you will need to find out if your current HVAC system can support an additional room. Bring in an expert to look at the capacity of your current heating and cooling system and find out if additional ductwork can be added to reach your attic.

Have the contractor check for or install rafter vents to keep air moving behind the insulation you will install to finish your attic. Rafter vents will keep your roof cool even while your attic is warm.

There are many benefits of adding a bathroom to your home, but you should consult a contractor to see if your attic can hold one. Most attics can only hold what is known as “dead weight,” which means some storage and light traffic.

To add a bathroom, your attic will need to hold “live weight,” the total weight of furniture, flooring, people and other items. Your ceiling joists will need to be strengthened to hold bathroom flooring, a tub and a toilet.

If you add a bathroom, be sure to position it above your kitchen or another bathroom. This makes it easier to connect to the already existing plumbing in your home.

Now, how do you make a room in the attic? If this is your first remodel, consider hiring a professional to help you with your attic conversion. If not, or you’re a confident DIYer, follow these nine steps to finishing an attic.

Before you begin your renovation, you’ll want to declutter your attic. Start by throwing away old junk and insulation. If the insulation is loose or blown in, use an industrial vacuum to remove it. You can install subflooring over your current insulation if it’s in good condition. If it is old and compressed, consider replacing it.

Once your attic is brought up to code and you have a permit, hire a licensed electrician to ensure all wiring meets code requirements. We recommend hiring a professional to avoid the risk of an electrical fire.

As a rule of thumb, there should be at least one outlet on each wall and at least one outlet every 12 feet.

If you’re adding a bathroom to your attic, you’ll need to install plumbing next. Again, unless you’re an experienced plumber yourself, you should hire a professional to ensure your project goes smoothly and you don’t run into any issues, like drainage problems, in the future.

If joists are visible on the floor of your attic, you will need to build a subfloor. Add insulation under your subfloor to reduce the sound traveling between your attic and the rest of your home. To make sure you have enough space for your insulation, you need to install a riser of two-by-fours over the existing joists.

• Be sure to lay the new joists for the riser perpendicular to the existing joists in your attic.
• Each new joist should be 16 inches apart.
• Screw each new joist into the existing joists, being careful to avoid any electrical wiring.
• Cap off each end of the subfloor with two-by-fours. At this point, your attic floor should look like a grid.
• Place the new insulation in between the subfloor joists.

For a DIY project, the best insulation for an attic is batt insulation with a vapor-retardant facing. This insulation is great for finishing an attic because it is flexible, easy to install, and can even be layered for additional coverage. Before installing the batts, caulk any spaces or leaks where air can pass to the rooms below.

Batt insulation is usually cut to fit between standard wall joists and 8-foot-high walls. Attic walls are not always this tall. If the batts don’t fit, trim pieces with a utility knife.

To install attic insulation:

• Push insulation into the space between joists with the vapor barrier facing you — not the wall. Try not to squish or compress the insulation. This can reduce its ability to insulate your attic.
• Staple the insulation into the joists. The insulation manufacturer may have offered specific instructions on how to do this.
• Continue the process on all attic walls and on the ceiling.
• If you need to insulate behind pipes or electrical wiring, peel the insulation apart, create two layers, and fit the layers around the obstacle. Again, make sure the vapor barrier is facing you, not the wall.

Once you’ve finished installing the insulation, it’s time to finish your walls. Hang drywall horizontally from your exposed studs and secure with drywall screws. Finish by covering seams and screws with drywall mud.

If you’re looking to add more decorative flair to your walls, consider installing beadboard instead of drywall.

Depending on the height of your roof, you may be able to choose a dropped ceiling for a more finished look, but if you need to conserve space to meet building code standards, install drywall directly to the roof to create your ceiling as well.

Adding skylights or dormers to your attic is a great way to introduce natural light into your space. But if these additions aren’t in your budget, and you don’t need to add a dormer to meet building code requirements, there are many other ways to light up your space. You can:

• Add a light fixture
• Position lamps around the room
• Use LED strips
• Hang holiday lights

You may also want to install a ceiling fan, but it’ll depend on the height of your attic. Consult with a professional to see if it’s possible to add to your attic.

Next, paint your drywall. New drywall will need to be primed prior to painting. After priming, add at least two coats of paint to give the drywall a finished appearance. If you used drywall on the ceiling, paint it before starting on the walls.

When choosing paint colors for your attic room, consider lighter options, especially if the room has few windows and little natural light.

You’re almost finished with your attic remodel! Your next step is to choose flooring for the room. Installing carpeting is a good option for an attic because it helps absorb sound and adds additional insulation to your floor. Follow installation guidelines based on the flooring of your choice.

Now that you’ve converted your attic to living space, what can you do with it? There are many ways you can use and decorate your new room. Check out the following finished attic ideas:

• Bedroom: Converting your attic to a bedroom is a great way to create a guest suite.
• Office: Add a home office in your attic for a quieter space to have your meetings.
• Playroom: Organize a playroom, so your kids’ toys have a permanent home.
• Storage room: Add shelves and use your attic for storing household items when you don’t need them out and about.
• Walk-in closet: Need a bigger space to store your wardrobe? Use your attic as a walk-in closet.