ATTICS

UPSTAIRS UPDATE

Renovating older attics requires special considerations

BY JENNIFER E. MABRY

Traditionally viewed as a storage space, attics are being revived in new and creative ways to accommodate homeowners’ lifestyles.

Susan Denk, owner and principal of White Crane Construction in Minneapolis, says her company entered the new year with more projects on the books than ever before. “It’s not just robust for (us); it’s robust across the country,” she says.

Although White Crane works on a variety of design projects, the firm’s specialty is remodeling homes built during the pre-war and World War II eras. Denk says homeowners considering an attic renovation should make sure the general contractor, architect or designer they hire is thoroughly knowledgeable about building codes, especially for decades-old structures.

There are many challenges involved in renovating an older space that has not previously been updated or has been renovated in a more piecemeal way over time. If a project is not properly planned and executed by a professional with considerable experience in that sector, it could cost the homeowner extra money and time, says Denk, who has 40 years of construction experience.

Many structures from this era were built with “dormers” — a loftlike room with windows that project beyond the plane of the roof, adding height to the attic space. That’s an architectural element designers have to

Tip

If you plan to take out a construction loan, you’ll need to have your home appraised and provide your financial institution with plans showing what the home will look like after the renovation is complete.

work around, and they also must consider that many attics aren’t built to protect against cold temperatures. A requisite for attic modernization is spray-foam insulation that cools the space in the summer and traps warmth in the winter.

Bathrooms are a popular attic addition because contractors can easily “stack” them above bathrooms on the floor below without disturbing the mechanics of the plumbing.

Home offices and bonus hobby rooms are also popular additions. The end goal of an attic renovation, says Denk, is to create a functional, well-insulated room that is light-filled and, of course, complies with the building codes of the state in your state.

Getting Started

Before diving into an attic renovation, Susan Denk suggests considering the following:

1What’s your budget? Denk says expect to spend $90,000 to $120,000 minimum to get the most efficient and desirable result.

2Your team. Understand the distinctions between working individually with a general contractor, architect and designer versus a company, like Denk’s, which manages all of the tradespeople, including the project manager, plumbers, electricians, painters and interior designers.

3Building codes. Be sure to work with someone who thoroughly understands the building codes in your state and the upgrades required to bring the attic into compliance for occupancy. Also, research whether tradespeople in your state are required to be licensed or certified to work specifically on older homes.

4Dormers. Evaluate the serviceability of dormers based on the existing height of a room. Denk says it’s not uncommon for homeowners to create dormers to add space to an older home, which entails raising the roof line at least 8 feet to create more livable space if, for example, you want to add a bedroom in addition to a bathroom.

5Insulation. This is key to upgrading the space so that it is habitable. Denk also recommends using double-pane argon gas windows, which are energy-efficient.

Dormer before

Dormer after