Attics

According to Hanley Wood Remodeling's Cost vs. Value Report 2008-09 National Averages, attic conversions cost an average of $48,398 and garnish an average cost recoup of 73.8%, or $35,694. That's down from last year - no surprise there - but still a relatively healthy number. Attics are one of the most ignored areas in a home, used simply to house things too good for the garage, but not good enough for the main living areas. The additional space an attic can add to your overall home square footage can be substantial (depending on your style of home) and can include a new bedroom, a playroom, a loft, an office space - if you think of it, you can make it work...the possibilities abound. There are challenges/points to keep in mind, however, when considering an attic remodel:

• Ceiling heights: attics, generally, have limited ceiling heights, so be sure to plan accordingly; consider 5 feet to be a minimum height for a usable space.
• Floors: attic floors will most likely need to be reinforced to carry the extra weight of a living area.
• Access: depending on the planned use for your attic, you can make access super-dooper easy by installing a stairway (ie. kids can easily get to their playroom), or a bit tedious, yet cheap, by installing an attic ladder (by the way, spiral staircases are my favorite!). Whatever type of access you choose, be certain on what the purpose of your attic space is going to be...pulling down an attic ladder every day to get to your "special place" will eventually lose it's luster.
• Insulation and Ventilation: your attic should already be properly insulated, but if it's not, this would be a great time to make sure it is! And be sure to include an update to your home's HVAC system to include that new living space; new windows should also be considered.