HOT PROPERTY

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NEED MORE SPACE?

TRY THE ATTIC

One

thing many homeowners have discovered over the past two years: square footage can get tight, especially in households where telecommuting, remote schooling, hobbies, and other indoor pursuits increasingly occur.

But there may be an overlooked solution that can amp up your living space: Think up, as in your attic – and it may be less expensive to build up than to build out via a room addition on the main floor.

One approach is an attic bump-out, which expands ceiling height in an attic with a steeppitched roof, accomplished by bumping out a portion of the roof to produce a more livable, flexible space.

“An attic bump-out involves adding space under an existing roof,” explains Gregg Cantor, president/CEO of Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel in San Diego. “The advantages to a bump-out include repurposing space that is underutilized and adding architectural improvements that can increase

your home’s curb appeal. Most importantly, more square footage increases your home’s overall value.”

Alternatively, a dormer addition in your attic can accomplish the same goals. A dormer is a roofed structure that vertically projects past the plane of a pitched/sloping roof and which commonly includes a window.

Cantor cautions that most attics are not designed for the extra loads that furniture and occupants can bring to the space; hence, careful planning and structural engineering are required. Hiring an experienced contractor and engineering expert, or a design/build firm, is crucial, as these pros can ensure that your home’s framing and foundation are appropriate and up to code for a bump-out or dormer.

Indeed, many considerations go into an attic remodel, from properly heating and cooling the space to ensuring adequate ventilation. You can retrofit your attic to tie into your existing HVAC system or install a dedicated HVAC, for example. Also, you may have to move pipes, ducts, and vents around to accommodate your new attic space.

“These projects are among the most complex home-improvement jobs a homeowner can undertake. To properly permit and build this type of project, there are architectural, interior design, structural engineering, and trade professionals required,” ads Cantor.

Per HomeAdvisor data, the average national price tag for an attic renovation is approximately $40,000, often ranging between $4,600 and $80,000. Expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $200 per square foot.

For many homeowners, that tab is worth it, proving much less expensive than purchasing a larger home and incurring moving costs.

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An attic can be a starting point for a home renovation.

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