Floor attic: Carpet, Hardwood, Laminate & More in Buford, GA

Best Flooring Options to Finish Your Attic

It’s just a fact. The longer you live in your home, the more things you accumulate and the less available space to store all your new goodies. Whether you need more storage, an extra bedroom, or a room dedicated to your limited-edition Star Wars action figures, you should consider looking upward.

Think about it—instead of going through the hassle of expanding your home, you can renovate your attic space to fit your needs. Of course, renovating is no walk in the park. Whether you are looking to convert your attic to a storage area or if you want a finished attic, it’s likely the hardest part of converting it will be putting new floors in. Before picking the best floor, here are some things you’ll want to take into account:

Before you begin, you should confirm with your city, town, or homeowners association (HOA) that you are allowed to convert that space. There are not typically regulations against renovating your attic for additional storage. Where you may run into issues is converting your attic space into additional living space. Keep in mind that if you do receive permission to move forward with your remodeling plans, your attic can be subject to inspections by building officials in the future.

It probably goes without saying that whatever you store in your attic, it needs to be able to fit. First, think about how you’ll use the space—storing boxes of holiday decorations or setting up your treadmill? Moving in a full bedroom set or just stashing a tent until camping season? Not only do you need to think about your floor space, but you will also need to think about the amount of head space you have. After all, you don’t want any of your belongings or—more importantly—your head to be bumping against the ceiling. 

Before starting your journey of transforming your attic, you also need to consider how large your joists are. Joists in attics are typically used to carry the weight of the ceiling in the rooms below it, as well as any utilities such as AC and fans. Some homes (specifically older homes from the 1960s) have small joists that are between 2×6 and 2×8. Unfortunately, if your home has 2×6 or 2×8 joists, it will not have enough strength to support flooring or the weight of what you are looking to move into the attic. However, this does not mean your dreams of refinishing your attic have to come to a complete halt!

Invite an expert to your house to verify that your attic can withstand the weight of floors and whatever else you’re planning to put up there. Additionally, if your joists are visible, you will need to build a subfloor. (More on that to come!)

Heat rises, so your renovated attic space may quickly become the hottest room in your home. Depending on where you live, you may be more than comfortable with that, but it will be important to have proper insulation and ventilation. Much of that can be done along with the flooring you choose, as well as the way in which you install it.

Now that we have gotten those considerations out of the way, let’s talk flooring! The style of floor you should buy is dependent on not only your own personal taste but also your vision for how you’ll use the space.

If you plan to use it solely as additional storage space, plywood is your best option. We recommend going with plywood at least 3/4 inch thick to make sure it is sturdy enough to support whatever is going up there. Plywood will also be used as a subfloor if you are planning to convert your attic into a living space, but for a more finished look, we recommend luxury vinyl, laminate, or carpet. Below are attributes of those three flooring options: 

• Luxury Vinyl
  • Durable
  • Sound-dampening
  • Back in style
• Laminate
  • Durable
  • Sound-dampening
  • Affordable
  • Easy to clean and maintain
  • Water-resistant
  • Replicates the classic look of hardwood or tile
• Carpet
  • Sound-dampening
  • Soft
  • Natural insulator 

By utilizing experts, thoughtfully considering what kind of space you want in your newly renovated attic space, and thoroughly reading through this blog, you’ll be able to confidently choose appropriate flooring to transform your attic. Additionally, here is a tool to help you visualize your future attic, as well as a planner to help you keep track of all the necessary steps. Find your local store to speak to an expert that can help you find the best flooring for your attic space.

How to Build a Raised Storage Area in Your Attic

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Published On

January 28, 2023June 28, 2012

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Attics are great for storage, but flooring directly over the attic floor joists doesn’t provide room for the recommended 12” to 16” of attic insulation needed to keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

To solve this problem, construct a raised platform from 2×4 or 2×6 lumber placed on edge, add insulation between the joists, and then cover it with 1/2″ plywood. Here’s how to go about it:

• Cut 2” thick lumber to length for the frame.
• Attach metal covers to electrical junction boxes, and move any electrical wires out of the way or notch the frame to fit around them.
• Build a frame on 16” centers perpendicular to the attic floor joists.
• Screw the frame to the joists to secure it in place, making sure not to screw into electrical wires.
• Full the spaces between the frame members with insulation.
• Rip 1/2″ thick plywood to 24″ widths so it will fit up the attic stairs.
• Screw the plywood to the frame.

Watch this video to find out more.

Further Information

• How to Build Storage Shelves in Your Attic (video)
• DIY Storage Solutions for Your Home (video)
• How to Organize and Add Storage to Your Garage (video)
• How to Install Closet Shelving (video)

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
To properly add an attic storage deck, start by measuring the largest area available that is not hindered by any ductwork; and, preferably, can avoid any existing roof support. To eliminate any potential problems with wiring or insulation, use two by four or two by six lengths to create a subfloor system for the new decking. These pieces can be placed perpendicular to the ceiling joists. Screwing the two bys to the joists will help prevent any damage to the interior ceiling that could result from hammering.

Place the two bys on edge, and install them to the ceiling joists so that the center of each board is exactly 16 inches away from that of the preceding board. Be careful not to trap a wire between the two bys and the joist. In most cases, you should have enough slack in the wire to move it out of the way. In rare cases, you may need to notch the bottom of the two by to allow the wire to remain exactly where it is.

Once all the two bys for the subfloor are in place, add batts of unfaced insulation between the two bys. If any electrical junction boxes are within the area of the new decking, make sure the box has a cover over it.

The decking material can be half-inch plywood. However, since very few attics have an opening that’s wide enough to pass a full sheet of plywood through, the four by eight sheets should be ripped lengthwise. Be sure to cut the ripped pieces to the proper length before taking them up into the attic.

The decking pieces will be placed directly on top of the newly added two by subfloor, covering any added insulation, and attached using 1¼” drywall screws. Once all the pieces are attached, you’re ready to begin using the newly made storage space.

Editorial Contributors

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny’s expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS’s The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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Attic and attic – what is the difference

When building a country cottage in small areas, many try to increase the area due to the attic or attic floor. Despite some similarities, there are a number of fundamental differences between such premises. Let’s figure out what the fundamental difference is and what is better to choose – an attic or an attic.

Attic features

There are clear definitions of what an attic floor is and what differences it must have in order to be called that.

Under the attic is understood the area under the roof, on which various things and old furniture are stored. If we turn to the official definition in SNiP, then the attic is a space located between the roof structure and not used for living, but completely isolated due to the roof. Such a space is often used to install various engineering equipment, therefore it is called technical.

The premises are characterized by the following features:

• Any roof configuration. The shape of the roof of the house does not matter – even the space under a shed roof will be considered an attic.

• Roof. It consists of roofing material, most often there is a layer of waterproofing from below. It is this design that replaces the ceiling of the room.

• Square. It can also be any, there are no restrictions on the minimum size of space.

• Gables. They are an integral part of the room, usually do not have windows, do not need additional insulation.

• Appointment. As a rule, the attic is used for technical purposes, as it is not suitable for frequent use. In fact, this is just a “side effect” of building a roof.

The attic acts not only as a storage area, but is also a special air “corridor” between the roof and the main part of the house. The interior decoration of such a room is not performed, since it is not necessary. This allows you to save money and avoid unexpected costs.

The attic floor can have a different design. But most often such a room is created in houses with a single and double-pitched roof. This is the most practical solution of what to do with the space formed under the roof. It is worth noting that the attic is not always equipped. Many homeowners do not use such an area even for technical purposes.

According to its properties, the attic floor can be of two types:

• Cold (uninsulated). In this case, insulation materials are located only in the interfloor ceilings and do not go beyond their boundaries.

• Warm (insulated). Insulation is used in the construction of the roof, which provides fast heating of the house even in winter.

Attic features

Now let’s deal with the second term in order to understand how the attic differs from the attic. The attic floor in the regulatory documentation is called the upper tier, which is located in the attic space of a building made of timber. That is, in SNiP the type of buildings in which such an element can be found is clearly indicated.

The facade of the attic must be completely or partially formed due to the planes of the roof. At the same time, there is a clear restriction on the height of the walls in the room – it should not exceed 150 cm. Otherwise, such a floor will be considered a full-fledged second floor.

An important feature of the attic floor is that it was originally intended for living, that is, it is a full-fledged residential area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe house. That is why it is well insulated, and additional ventilation is often performed. For this reason, it is not always possible to make an attic from an attic.

Now consider the main characteristics of the tier:

• roof configuration. A form is used that will provide the largest possible volume of the room and help achieve the optimal height of the ceilings. Complex multi-pitched roofs are often constructed.

• Gables. They serve as vertical walls of space. Can be used to install windows or balcony doors.

• The volume of the room. The main task is to increase the amount of space as much as possible. In some cases, this is achieved by reducing the height of the ceilings under the roof slopes.

• Roof. It is more complicated than in the case of the attic. Be sure to complete the roofing materials. Under them is a heater, waterproofing, vapor barrier. The inside is being finished.

Despite the fact that, by definition, according to SNiP, the attic floor is equipped only in houses made of timber, this term is often used to refer to a room under a roof in other wooden buildings. The main feature of the upper tier is its use as a living room. Often in the attic equip bedrooms, offices or libraries. But for a bathroom or kitchen, the floor most often turns out to be unsuitable.

Key differences

As you can see, such premises have a number of fundamental differences. Let’s summarize:

• An attic is a technical or auxiliary room in a cottage, so it is not used as a residential area. The attic has the opposite meaning, as it often serves as a bedroom or children’s room.

• The height of the attic in a private house often does not reach even 1 m, but there are no clear standards regarding the minimum values ​​​​of such a space. The height of the attic should not exceed 150 cm, otherwise it will be considered a full-fledged second floor.

• The area and volume of the attic is usually small, and the attic floor does not have clear restrictions on the maximum size. This allows you to make such a space a full-fledged alternative for the upper floor.

• In the first case, the use of windows is not required (although 1-2 small windows are often installed), while on the attic floor they are almost mandatory. Windows are often smaller than those on the ground floor.

• The attic floor can be made cold and warm (insulated). The attic is always insulated, as it serves as a living space. You can not do without good ventilation and vapor barrier, you also need a good finish.

• The attic space is a “side” result of the construction of a pitched roof, while the second type of space is specially equipped.

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According to the law, the difference between an attic and an attic lies precisely in the purpose of the premises. That is why the attic floor is not included in the total area of ​​​​a residential building, while the attic is a full-fledged part of the dwelling.

The financial costs of arranging such premises also cannot be called proportionate. The attic floor requires minimal investment: no finishing or additional insulation is needed, in most cases you can save a lot. The attic room needs good insulation and vapor barrier, and you will also need to seriously invest in finishing work.

Of course, there is no unequivocal answer to the question of which under-roof space is suitable for a country cottage. If you are satisfied with the size of the first floor and there is a need for savings, then, of course, it is better to choose the attic floor. Such a solution is more affordable and easier to arrange, it does not require extra time and building materials. If the area and comfort of living are important to you, then you should definitely choose the attic floor.

We hope you figured out what an attic and an attic floor are in a private house. The difference between the solutions is quite serious, so in no case can they be considered the same. If you have any questions, DOMAMO specialists are ready to answer them.

80 photos of the requirements for creating a room

The attic floor of a private house is an excellent architectural solution. The idea itself arose in the 17th century, when the architect Francois Mansart decided to make a cozy living space out of an abandoned attic. Today, this design is considered very popular in construction.

Countless photos of the attic floor presented on the net will tell you what kind of architectural and design decision to make when building your own home. However, it is still worth having a general idea of ​​​​the features of design and construction, as well as finishing such a structure.

Table of contents of the article:

Arrangement of the attic and its nuances

Attics being built today are located above the entire structure, or above its part. Features of modern design allow you to create houses with an attic floor in almost any architectural direction.

The desire for rational use of living space, coupled with cost savings and useful area of ​​the site make the attic an extremely attractive object.

Its arrangement has its own characteristics: the additional floor is affected both from the outside, where natural forces act, and from the inside – warm air from human life tends to rise.

Therefore, all structures are carefully checked in terms of hydro, steam and thermal insulation. The roof must be correctly selected, taking into account many nuances.

Attic design

Before starting construction, it is necessary to analyze the plan of the built house. If the construction of the building is only planned, it is worth thinking about its design features in advance, since the attic device has certain requirements.

Construction necessarily involves taking into account the following parameters:

• foundation analysis;
• clear relationship of the attic floor and communications;
• communication of all premises of the house among themselves;
• the shape and size of the object being built.

The main requirement for the attic being built is the lightness of the materials used in the structural elements, the optimal load on the foundation.

Erection of the attic above the finished building

The attic floor should be erected only after technical expertise has been carried out. Thanks to the expertise, the forces acting on the walls and foundation of the building are determined.

Before you start designing, you should decide whether the future premises will be residential. If it is, then the floor being built may well become a zone of high-quality recreation. If not, then using it as a storage facility will require a different approach to building.

The height of the roof must also be considered; as a rule, the parameter ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 meters. Experts recommend not to deviate from this parameter.

Windows used on the attic floor can be large, occupying up to 20% of the entire wall and roof area, or small. Experts do not recommend violating these parameters.

After that, it is necessary to prepare an attic floor project and approve it with the customer. It is also necessary to obtain the appropriate permits.

Variety of sizes and shapes

The construction of the attic opens up great opportunities in order to implement various kinds of architectural solutions. An additional floor, which according to the norms is not considered a full-fledged second floor, can be executed in various geometric shapes.

The simplest solution in terms of design, calculations and execution is provided by a gable roof, the system of which consists of rafter legs resting on the walls and arranged parallel and in the same plane of the girders.

In the case of choosing a sloping roof of the attic floor, parts (at least two) are folded from the rafter legs, forming a broken line. Thanks to this solution, the attic space increases, the house acquires an original appearance.

Another interesting option for the roof design – remote consoles that increase the space from the inside.

Design features

Attic room is a connection of walls with a ceiling. If the slopes of the roof are made steep, then a high ceiling and spaciousness can be achieved. However, its construction should be guided by building codes, according to which the height of the ceilings must be made at least 2. 3 m.

Premises where the ceiling height is less than 1.5 m are considered unsuitable for habitation. Particular attention should be paid to such a constructive moment as tightening the rafters, if it is performed poorly, the strengthening of the entire roof will be minimized, and this entails great risks of collapse of the truss system.

Stages of construction

During construction, even a slight discrepancy with the initially set parameters often leads to the fact that the design of the attic floor will receive serious violations, the safety of using the building will be at risk.

Materials used for building walls must have special properties: be non-combustible and non-toxic.

Roofing is one of the most critical stages, since the roof is exposed to aggressive natural factors, transferring the load to the foundation. Insulation is of great importance, while it is necessary to use high-quality materials and technologies.

All rooms are insulated from the inside using drywall or OSB boards, steam, heat and waterproofing materials.

The main requirement for windows is their tightness. In any case, the construction of an attic is a responsible matter, it is better to entrust it to professionals.

Attic interior design

Interior design depends on the purpose of the space. When building from wood, it would be logical to use the same material in the design. As a plus – the additional thermal insulation that the tree will give, and a good microclimate inside the rooms.

Sometimes the finishing material is lining, which can give the furnished bedroom on the attic floor an original look. If the room becomes an office, it makes sense to use MDF.

The brightness of the interior can be achieved with drywall sheets. For example, arrange all kinds of partitions and arches, or make suspended multi-level ceilings.