Transforming Your House Attic Into a Functional Retreat

Creating more living space inside your home usually means paying quite a bit for an addition or similar construction project. If you’re trying to maintain the same footprint or don’t have the space for an exterior addition, you’ll have to think inside of the box. Attics are great targets for conversion into useful living spaces because they’re much more common than basements and tend to stay drier. If your home is older than 50 years, there is a good chance that your roof and attic space were built with rafters, not trusses. This would make attic conversion into a livable space fairly easy. Don’t let that space go to waste when an attic renovation can add room for a home office, kid’s room, yoga studio, or anything else you need. 

Ready to transform your attic? Contact us for a free consultation!

Is Your Attic Conversion Friendly? 

The first thing you’ll need to determine is how you’ll access the new living space. While your fold-down attic ladder may work for the rare inspection, it won’t provide a safe or comfortable permanent access point to the attic. We generally start the conversion project by discussing design options for staircases and other options to help you access the attic. Pull-down stairs with large treads allow you to keep your current flow through the home, while spiral staircases can fit into spaces where full-sized designs wouldn’t work. We’ll help you choose the right option for your home by leveraging our years of experience in handling attic conversions. 

Dealing with Rafters vs. Trusses

Why is it easier to convert an attic built with rafters than with trusses? It all comes down to the design and how these structures support the roof’s weight. Trusses are an affordable way to quickly build a home, and that’s why they’re commonly used in new construction. However, they rely on a triangular and cross-braced design that takes up almost all the attic space. Only loft-style trusses with space left in the center for future use will allow you to consider a conversion project. 

Rafters are built so that they support the roof directly with minimal cross-bracing, leaving plenty of open space to work with. Steep pitched roofs often leave more than enough space for a 7-foot tall ceiling. If you’re not sure what kind of roof construction you have, try looking around through the attic entry point. Trusses will resemble large triangles with smaller triangles inside them attached with metal bracing. Rafters tend to run from the top of the walls to where they meet in the middle at the peak of the roof. If there’s a decent amount of open space in your attic, you likely have rafters rather than trusses. 

Schedule a free attic consultation with Sosna.

Light, Air, and Space

Most attics only have small windows and the vents intended to let air circulate in from the outside. We’ll need to seal up the space and direct alternative roof venting to keep the space comfortable and dry. The attic conversion will also involve some kind of lighting plan, preferably a combination of natural and artificial sources. Windows, skylights, and solar tubes bring light in without risking roof leaks. If the space doesn’t lend itself well to the installation of natural light sources, we can find the perfect fixtures to complete the space and give it a well-lit and airy appearance. 

Ventilation inside the finished attic space is also important. We can connect the new rooms to the rest of the HVAC system so they stay warm in the winter and cool all summer long. Improving the amount of insulation between the roof and the attic space goes a long way toward achieving this goal as well. 

Improving Indoor Air Quality

Finishing the attic can even improve the air quality for the rest of the home, especially if you’re living in an older structure with aging insulation. Older insulation materials like vermiculite and wool can break down into dust that filters down into the rest of the home. Installing new insulation and sealing the space as part of the renovation process could stop this cycle. There’s even a risk that some of the old attic insulation in your home could contain asbestos. Working with a qualified renovation company like SOSNA is the safest way to deal with this issues and improve the safety of your older home. 

Starting first with a design will ensure your project runs smoothly, and the end result is exactly what you want it to be.

Storage and Style

If your home feels cramped and your attic is currently used only as a place to store decorations and old mementos, you’re missing out. Why let that space go to waste when you can utilize every area of your home? Finishing the attic enough to make it a clean and safe storage area is one of the most affordable ways to improve the space. Even if you’re planning a more extensive conversion to add a bedroom or other room to the attic, make sure you’re making the most of the rest of the storage space available. Storage can be added under the eaves with cabinets, or included as built-in shelving.

Safety First

Attics are perfectly safe to use as living spaces and bedrooms, but only with the right adjustments for egress and fire protection. We’ll ensure your attic conversion project follows all the relevant building codes and safety requirements. With our years of experience in the Toronto area, you can rest assured that inspections and permits won’t be a problem. There are a few rules that determine if the attic can be considered a habitable space or if it will only work for storage. We’ll assess your structure and discuss what’s possible for you based on the structural limitations of your attic. 

Our Sosna  Home Renovation Process ensures your attic transformation is completed properly, and safely.

Considering Possibilities for Plumbing and More 

Depending on the attic conversion ideas you have in mind, you may want to add a bathroom or kitchenette to the space so that there’s no need to go downstairs all the time. We can investigate what options you have for extending plumbing and other home systems to the attic for a retreat that truly meets your needs. It’s always exciting to find new ways to add luxurious features to this hidden space for an attic hideaway that no one will guess contains so many wonders. 

Investing in your Lifestyle

A professionally finished attic can significantly enhance your living experience. While individual factors determine if the cost of renovation is outweighed, the enjoyment and utility you’ll gain from the new space will undoubtedly be worth it. An attic conversion is particularly valuable for smaller homes of 1,000 square feet or less, offering much-needed space for a home office or bedroom. Compared to home additions, attic renovations are typically less expensive and quicker, although this depends on your home’s structure.

Schedule a free consultation to get started on your remodel.

Incorporating Wellness 

Your attic retreat can be anything you desire. From a small at-home yoga studio to a relaxing reading room, your conversion is an opportunity to create a better match between your personality and the place you live. Our designers can help you express yourself by creating the perfect ambience for the space, incorporating your preferred colour palette and material selections. The lighting design can also reflect your preferences by incorporating LED lighting that can paint the room in any shade of the rainbow. With help from our home renovation company serving Toronto and Vaughan, ON, you can transform your attic into a functional wellness space that your entire family can enjoy. 

Improving the Quality of Your Life with Our Attic Conversion Services 

According to House Method, 93% of renovation clients reported a better quality of life after finishing their home renovations. There’s a good chance it’ll improve your life as well. Sosna is happy to help you discover how renovating your attic into a high-end retreat can bring new value to your home. Begin the process today by contacting our team and discussing your needs and wants for your design. Our multi-stage planning process ensures you’re getting exactly  what you expect from the conversion. Each attic is different, so it’s best to let us investigate what’s possible in your space before making too many plans. Whether you already have some ideas or you’re looking for inspiration, a member of our team will be happy to help you decide exactly what you want.

Choose Sosna today for a streamlined attic renovation process. Our expertise in transforming older Toronto homes can help you avoid the need to move to get more space. Squeeze another bedroom under the same roof or create a relaxing retreat that gives you a renewed sense of peace.