Do I Need A Permit To Finish My Attic

Flooring ceiling and wall materials and other elements will reduce headroom and floor space and it s the finished area that matters.

Do i need a permit to finish my attic.

When done without proper planning or adherence to local building codes it can actually reduce the value of your home or stall a sale. Whether you envision your house s top floor as an away from it all master suite a quiet home office or a hangout spot for the kids read these 14 tips to help you finish your attic remodel. Finished is important to remember when you re measuring an empty attic space. Before finishing an attic get the necessary permits from your local housing commission so you don t get in trouble later on if you try to sell your house.

To meet all three goals insulating your finished attic ventilating the roof and maximizing headroom use a combination of dense batt insulation rigid foam sheeting and air chutes. In most cases though the joists cannot support live loads and may not even be covered with boards. Please submit your questions v ia email. Every attic is different but a few established norms and practices will guide your renovation.

After almost completing her attic with a contractor the contractor never returned ignored her calls repeatedly and finally when she caught him on the phone he responded that he had no more time to complete. I received a call the other day from a woman that was very excited and needed advice. In rare cases especially in new construction homes the attic may have been built unfinished with the correct flooring in place with the idea that the homeowner could later on finish the space. Finish my basement or attic do i need a permit.

Finishing your attic can add space and utility and increase the value of your home as long as it s done properly. The basic space requirements for a finished attic boil down to the sizes of the finished rooms. A permit keeps you and the contractor honest and should ensure that the modifications are up to code. If you re finishing your attic insulating it to the proper r value can cause a dramatic loss of headroom if you limit yourself to fiberglass batts.

In my opinion you should always get a permit. If your attic joists won t bear the weight necessary to finish out a living space but the engineer cleared them to support floor decking for light storage you can install inch plywood or. Here are some must do tips to follow when finishing your attic. Think to the future too.

Account for codes and safety photo by casey dunn.