What can be a good use for an attic?

[M & M]

Hi all,

I am a first time buyer of a home that will be built for next summer. This home has an attic that is accessible via a WIC located in the master bedroom. Now, given that I am clueless about attics (other than that there is always some monsters lurking in there just like I use to see in horror movies... :-) ) What can I use it for or is it only useless space that I just have to leave it as is? What can be a good use for an attic? How can I convert it to be something useful?

Thanks

M&M

[Whitedart]

Hi all,

I am a first time buyer of a home that will be built for next summer. This home has an attic that is accessible via a WIC located in the master bedroom. Now, given that I am clueless about attics (other than that there is always some monsters lurking in there just like I use to see in horror movies... :-) ) What can I use it for or is it only useless space that I just have to leave it as is? What can be a good use for an attic? How can I convert it to be something useful?


In this area, most new houses have engineered roof trusses that criss cross across the attic area, so that provides little usable room. Given that, and insulation that would be covering the joists that provide your upper floor ceiling and you really can't do a lot in the attic in terms of use or storage without tampering with the insulation.

[MacGyver]

Do not use your attic for anything. Essentially, it is unconditioned space, and the temperature and humidity levels inside will be the same as the outside conditions during the winter. The insulation on top of the ceiling is what keeps your house comfortable. In the summer, it will get extremely hot. This makes it useless for storing anything since the wild temperature and humidity extremes will ruin anything you put up there.

You can put an antenna in the attic if you use one for getting TV and you'd rather not have it outside, but do this only if you must for aesthetic reasons. Putting an antenna inside the attic will reduce the broadcast signal.

It is possible to finish an attic and make it habitable space, but there are so many things required by building code to make it code compliant, complex renovations like stairs, that's it's not worth it to try.

[BuildingHomes]

It is possible to finish an attic and make it habitable space, but there are so many things required by building code to make it code compliant, complex renovations like stairs, that's it's not worth it to try.

All new houses have engineered roof trusses. As you said, this would essentially be impossible unless they want to remove the existing roof and build a new one.

Sorry dude, your attic is just used for holding up the roof. It will be 50+ degrees in the summer and at least as cold as outside during the winter.

There is no real amount of room to store everything, and the 'floor' will be blown insulation, meaning fluff. If you compact the fluff by putting stuff on top of it, then that reduces its thermal properties.

[Jay-c]

All new houses have engineered roof trusses. As you said, this would essentially be impossible unless they want to remove the existing roof and build a new one.

Sorry dude, your attic is just used for holding up the roof. It will be 50+ degrees in the summer and at least as cold as outside during the winter.

There is no real amount of room to store everything, and the 'floor' will be blown insulation, meaning fluff. If you compact the fluff by putting stuff on top of it, then that reduces its thermal properties.

Perfectly said. I had to go up in my attic this summer to do some reinforcements for a ceiling fan, and it was a real pain to crawl across all the trusses, etc.. i felt like an army man!! Not to mention it's ridiculously hot up there of course in the summer! Glad that little job is done!

[SMC23]

Is it safe to crawl through the attic? Will the beams support a 225lb person?

I need install some potlights over an open to above space below and afraid to crawl over this part of the ceiling if it is unsafe.

PLease advise....

[BartBandy]

Is it safe to crawl through the attic? Will the beams support a 225lb person?

I need install some potlights over an open to above space below and afraid to crawl over this part of the ceiling if it is unsafe.

PLease advise....

Tiptoe on the bottom chords of the trusses. Missing a truss is a great way to create a new hole in your ceiling for a skylight.

[patrob]

Missing a truss is a great way to create a new hole in your ceiling for a skylight.

:D :D ...or a potlight :lol:

[glaswegian]

Is it safe to crawl through the attic? Will the beams support a 225lb person?

I need install some potlights over an open to above space below and afraid to crawl over this part of the ceiling if it is unsafe.

PLease advise....

Drop down to 180lbs, and then attempt it :D

[SMC23]

Really guys, don't want to kill myself! The open to above area takes up about a 1/4 of the ceiling and I just don't feel comfortable knowing that there is no support for the trusses below. It's a no brainer that you got to walk over the trusses!!

BTW - 225 lbs of muscle not flab. I'm a pretty big guy and work out everyday!

[MacGyver]

If you need to work in the attic, use a piece of scrap plywood and set it across the bottom chord of the trusses. You can sit on it and use it as a work area.

If you're penetrating the vapour barrier, make sure you fix it with some good quality tape before closing up.