How Much Does an Attic Remodel Cost?

It’s hard to look at all the space above your head and imagine letting it all go to waste. Attic conversions are popular right now. They don’t require you to add on to your home, but they can give you extra space and even another bedroom or bathroom. Although they tend to cost less than a home addition, it’s still worth researching what you can expect to pay for your attic renovation. We’ve put together a few projects to help you begin to build a budget.

Cost to Finish Attic?

If you’re like a lot of homeowners, your attic isn’t finished. For the basics, you’ll pay $30 to $60 per square foot, or up to $200 per square foot for all of the extras. Unfinished attics tend to have very little, even less than an unfinished basement in many cases. You might have exposed insulation and framing, and no electrical or HVAC systems. Attic finishing may include framing, drywall, insulation, subflooring, a fan and more. You can expect to pay $5,000 to $20,000 to get your attic to this level, and more depending on what you want to do with it.

Finished Attic Ideas

Even if you have a relatively small attic, you may have a ton of space to work with. The cost to finish attic space is the bare minimum, but then you can start to dream. If you follow our tips to maximize your remodeling budget, you may be able to dream big. Take a look at some of our favorite attic conversion projects.

Attic Storage

You may already use your attic for storage, so you can understand what an improvement of $5,000 to $25,000 can get you. Wondering how to finish an attic for storage? It can be as simple or complicated as you want it to be. On the low end of the range, you get basic finishing to help protect your belongings from damage related to temperature or weather. On the high end, you can create a custom closet organization or a small library.

Attic Living Spaces

If you’re dying to have a place where you can send the teenagers, or you need a home office that’s away from the rest of the home, you can plan to invest $10,000 to $50,000. Like attic storage, this project has a wide range because it’s almost infinitely customizable. If you don’t have a ton of room in the attic, or you’re trying to stick to a limited budget, you’ll find the most flexibility here.

Walk-Up Attic

If you have big plans for use of your attic, you should probably budget an extra $5,000 to $25,000 to make it a walk-up attic. Walk-up attics include a permanent staircase, which means no more pull-down steps or rickety ladders. If you have an older home, there are a few historic home features you may want to keep.

Attic Bedroom

An attic bedroom costs $10,000 to $80,000. You’ll pay more to create a bedroom than you would for a game room, library, home office or fitness room. Attic bedrooms have unique requirements, but within those limitations, you have a lot of freedom to brainstorm. The attic is an ideal place for older kids or teens. If you have the space, it might also become a wonderful master bedroom.

Attic Bathroom

Converting the attic into a bathroom costs $10,000 to $60,000. It’s a great use of limited space because a standard three-piece bathroom doesn’t require as much as a bedroom. If you’re trying to maximize the space in your attic, you might be able to add a bathroom and a small bedroom or multipurpose room.

Loft Conversions Cost

A loft conversion costs $10,000 to $75,000. A loft is similar to an attic except it may not be enclosed. Creating a brand-new loft runs around $10,000 to $40,000. If you have an existing loft, and you’re hoping to turn it into a bedroom, you’ll pay up to $75,000.

Does Finishing an Attic Add Value?

For most projects, finishing an attic adds 50% to 60% in increased value. It depends on the type of project and other factors, including when you might decide to sell the home. For example, converting an attic into a formal bedroom or bathroom usually nets the largest return on investment because those rooms add specific value on an appraisal. But even if you’re not planning for one of those projects, you can still see added value with an increase in usable square footage. And of course, everything you do to make your home work better for you adds non-monetary value, as well.

Can a Finished Attic Be Considered a Bedroom?

Attic conversions to make an additional bedroom require a little extra consideration. You’re not just worrying about having sufficient space and privacy, as well as a closet room. You have to meet building standards for bedrooms, or you won’t be able to count it on an appraisal. It’s an important factor for your return on investment, even if you’re not planning on selling right away. As a general rule, bedrooms must have the following:

• 70 square feet minimum
• Two methods of escape, usually a door and egress window
• HVAC
• Slanted ceilings are acceptable, as long as ceiling height is 7 feet minimum for at least half of the room

If you really need the space to count as a bedroom, make it clear when you start searching for the right remodeling contractor.

What Will My Attic Spaces Remodel Cost?

These ranges give you a taste of what you can expect for the cost of your project. To get a detailed estimate, you’ll need to contact a professional remodeling team. At Creative Building Concepts, we recommend that you get ahead of the crowd by scheduling your project as early as possible. For more information about the ways that we can make your attic remodel work for you, schedule a consultation today.