How to turn an attic into an attic room

How do I turn an attic into an attic? In this article, we will give you a precise and accurate description of the basic steps for transforming an attic into a dwelling. In order to renovate a non-habitable attic, you will need to refer to the regulations in force, during the design and construction phases of insulation, cladding and furnishing.

Here is everything you need to know about changing the intended use of a non-habitable attic.

Transforming an attic into an attic: the basic steps

Anyone who decides to renovate an attic and convert it into an attic must follow a number of steps carefully to find out whether it is possible to convert their attic into a fully-fledged living space (even if it is just an additional room in their home, such as a bedroom, wardrobe or storage space).

First of all, it is essential to carefully check the regional regulations. Each region in our country has specific regulations on the habitability of spaces. These regional laws mainly concern the definition of a minimum height for a habitable attic space or a space in general.

If the relevant regional legislation lays down specific requirements, in that case it will be necessary to check carefully with the municipality where the property is located what documents must be produced in order to apply for habitability. In general terms, we can say that the SCIA is usually required, with the attic renovation project attached.

Converting an attic into an attic: the project

Converting an attic into an attic requires as accurate a renovation project as possible. The project must be carried out starting from the definition of the space available. In particular, first of all it will be necessary to understand whether the attic has the minimum height required to be converted into a living space.

In most Italian regions, the average height of a habitable space is 2.40 metres, reduced to 2.20 metres for service rooms such as a bathroom or cloakroom. It should also be pointed out that in some mountain areas, the minimum habitable height is reduced and lower heights are allowed.

When planning the conversion of an attic into an attic, attention must also be paid to lighting and air exchange. The average daylight factor must be at least 2 per cent and therefore the glazed areas must not be less than one eighth of the total floor area. The provision of windows in an attic space allows you to benefit from an excellent coefficient or aero-illuminant ratio, which will guarantee you a significant amount of natural light entering the space.

Obviously, the choice of how to renovate your attic space will mainly depend on the needs of the house. It will usually be necessary to create a bedroom or a second bathroom, to increase the space available to the family.

Insulating an attic

When renovating an attic, the thermal insulation aspect is very important. Thanks to a complete insulation project, it will be possible to benefit overall from an extremely comfortable environment from a climatic point of view, both during the cold season and during the summer. Obviously, depending on the climate, you can choose appropriate roof windows and protection. In this way, you will be able to make your attic space extremely cosy all year round.

Attic floor

When converting an attic into a loft space, it is also very important to pay attention to the floor covering. One of the most common materials used for attic floors is wood. As well as giving your space a great sense of warmth and cosiness, wood is a natural material that guarantees high standards of thermal insulation.

Furnishing an attic room

At this point in the renovation process, it is time to focus on furnishing your new attic space. Needless to say, this phase of the renovation represents the greatest opportunity to make the most of the space you have available, choosing extremely practical and functional furniture that meets your aesthetic and stylistic needs. When configuring the furniture for an attic it is important to consider that the difference in height between the walls must always be well structured, alternating low furniture in the niches where the height is lower with higher furniture, such as wardrobes towards the roof ridge.

How much does it cost to convert an attic into a mansard?

The costs of renovating and converting an attic into an attic are variable and influenced by several factors. In general terms, we can define the costs of structural changes to the unfinished state of your space in a price range between 150 and 350 euros per square metre.

To these costs must be added the additional costs of finishing. Lastly, you will have to pay for the bureaucratic and professional aspects of obtaining permits to convert an attic into a living space.