Turning an attic into living space

This 200+ sq. ft. living space was created out of space that was simple attic storage, with bare framing and insulation. The old space was accessed via a rickety old pull-down ladder. Taking advantage of a small hall closet and some unused space above the basement staircase, a new staircase was constructed. New short knee-walls were constructed on top of a newly-laid subfloor, followed by insulation, wiring, and drywall. A pair of new ducts bring heat and air-conditioning to the space. A new window in the gable-end of the room brings lots of light to the space.

Several obstacles had to be moved or altered to allow for the new space. A whole-house exhaust fan was moved from the middle of the new room to the opening for the old ladder. A pair of built-in storage cabinets had to be removed to allow for the new stairs, including a glass-door unit in the kitchen. In their place, new shallower units were built to retain some storage, while allowing them to fit within the wall assembly. The new room occupies about half the original attic, the other half remains as storage, but to allow access, a door was needed. The low, sloped ceiling didn't allow enough room for a pre-built door unit to be used, so a 2' wide x 6' high door was built. Since the storage space is unheated, the door consists of plywood facing over a 2" thick foam core. Since the door was thicker than a standard door, a custom extension was welded to allow a stock lockset to be used.

A bit of paint, trim, shelving, and carpet and the space is ready for use.

(picture with carpet to follow soon)