Time will come a time when you will be in need of a safe space to store your used furniture, children’s’ toys, appliances, files or old books or magazines and newspapers. An inventory of usable space for that purpose will crowd your mind and start your search at the rooftop down to your basement if there is in your house. While there might not be a real attic atop your ceiling joist, you might try to investigate that open space between your ceiling and your house roof. In most cases, it could accommodate a meter and a half at the apex point and that would be a sufficient space to store some excess baggage in your house.
Decide and Compute
If you have decided that the attic would be the semi-permanent store room of your old unusable things, it would be the nice thing to start computing the cost to convert that space into a functional attic. Start planning to convert that space by investigating the actual area involved. Prepare a draft working drawing indicating the access ladder-type stair to be used. Identify the perfect area where to place it. Likewise, make sure that you have identified the electrical connections and the tapping point for your protection as work on the attic area.
Once you have determined the access stair and the area to be converted, an investigation on the strength of the beams must be conducted. Of course, the columns of your house should also be evaluated whether the additional loads aside from the materials to be stored as well as the floor beams and walling could be accommodated. Always consider the safety of your house as a dwelling place.
After you have done with your planning, ask yourself if it be done by you. If not, list all the labor that you need to carry on the work. If you lack the skills, it is best to seek the services other skilled individuals at your own budget. All the alteration and addition to your house’ original plans must be properly identified. This is important so that extra works would be limited. Additional works that were not identified when you prepared your budget will cause you some problems later on.
There Are Inconveniences
Since the renovation work would be done inside your house where you are still residing assuming you will not move out, the construction must be done in a phasing methodology. This technique will not affect the functionality of the original house. It should not be totally affected though you’ll suffer some disturbances. In order to implement this approach, you better hire professional people to do the job if you don’t have the technical capacity to do it by yourself. Some portions of the house must be closed to avoid accidents. There would be constant movements within the house as some parts are finished while other portions are starter.
Your Presence Is Important
In all these phases of construction, the owner must always be there to assist the renovator-contractor. This is necessary so that you can give your comments whenever possible. If there is a need for immediate decision, like a rotten wooden beam or a weak column that needs a replacement or reinforcement, you can automatically give your consent. Remember that other works that were not discussed previously will cost you another bill. This is the problem associated with renovation or extension works in the home.
In such situations, the attic project would be done as scheduled though at a higher costs than what you have budgeted. However, your excess unusable personal belongings could now find a temporary or perhaps a permanent space to house them.