Converting your attic to an additional room or finished indoor area can expand your home’s living spaces with minimal expense. Not all attics are good candidates for a conversion, however. Here are some of the more important considerations Sage Builders LLC will keep in mind when planning an attic conversion for your home:

• Know and comply with building codes: An experienced contractor will know how to comply with building codes and requirements. Your attic conversion will likely be governed by a collection of state, county and municipal codes. Many will probably be similar to requirements contained in the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Story Dwellings (IRC).
• Determine habitable space: If creating a living area in your attic, it should have at least 70 square feet of area in which the ceiling is five feet or higher. Further, at least 50 percent of the space must have a ceiling of at least seven feet. A sealed attic used primarily for storage may not have to meet this requirement.
• Install enough windows: Make sure the total area of the windows in the attic conversion adds up to 8 percent or more of the usable floor area. A 100-square-foot area, for example, would require 8 square feet of windows. An area equal to 4 percent of the total space must be openable to allow access to the outdoors.
• Install safe and sturdy stairs: Fixed stairs will be built strong enough to withstand at least 30 pounds of weight per square foot.
• Ensure sufficient heating and cooling: HVAC system coverage must be sufficient to keep the attic space at a temperature of at least 68 degrees.

Let Sage Builders LLC help you with your attic conversion project and you’ll have a comfortable and functional upstairs addition to your home living space.