Every attic is different but a few established norms and practices will guide your renovation.
This old house add ac to dormer attic space.
But a contractor experienced in retrofitting can cleverly hide ductwork behind walls in the back of closets and up in the attic with minimal cuts into walls and the ceiling and very little mess.
Adding to the illusion of small size the top window has smaller panes so it looks farther away.
Dormer roofs are the little rooms that project from a roof and allow more space and light in the top floor or attic.
Here s what you need to know about attics.
Adding a dormer provided 100 square feet for the home office located near the top of the stairs.
But when you need new ducts you have three types to choose from.
It was left open to the stairwell and library wall for a feeling of spaciousness.
Your actual living space is sealed and insulated at the attic floor the attic is outside this envelope.
These 10 foot long foil wrapped fiberglass panels are cut folded and taped to form four sided ducts.
Whether you envision your house s top floor as an away from it all master suite a quiet home office or a hangout spot for the kids read these 14 tips to help you finish your attic remodel.
Adding ac to a house that already has ducts is relatively straightforward.
You can go to a much higher seer air conditioner and have all the bells and whistles.
Lightweight and doesn t sag.
This gives you the best humidity control.
After floorplan illustration by ian worpole.
Account for codes and safety photo by casey dunn.
Wide shed photo by nancy andrews.
Needs no added insulation.
When extra space is needed upstairs the easiest solution is often to add a wide shed dormer.
In my mind circulating air in the attic would accelerate the existing convection currents and help distribute the heat load.
Most premium air conditioning units 15 seer or above have two stage compressors or dual compressors and adjustable speed blowers.
The hotspots in my house correspond to where the ceiling is closest to the roofline mere feet in some cases and the cold spots to where there is 10 15 of attic truss space.
If there are asphalt shingles on your roof the attic must be ventilated to comply with the terms of the manufacturer s warranty.
For this reason premium air conditioning systems may be the best choice for old houses.
Don t avoid ventilating your attic for fear you re letting cold air into the house.
From the exterior however these dormers can sometimes look overwhelming.
The state of your attic has a major impact on your home s comfort and energy efficiency.
Here are 12 different types of dormer roofs and their history.
Arched top photo by nancy andrews.