Renovation tips: Converting your attic into a home office

There are so many reasons why you might need a construction loan. Renovating and updating your home to suit your tastes can be one of the greatest joys of owning a house – and it can even add a few digits to the property’s price if it comes time to sell. In any case, you might just want to create a bit more space for your business or simply have an area where you can organise the family bills in peace and quiet.

When your home is running low on space, it might be worth investigating the option above your head – the attic. The floor area above the ceiling can be easy to forget, but it could add actually some valuable floor space to your home and offers a great alternative for a functional home office. It could be worth keeping these helpful hints in mind.

Do your research

Before you obtain finance to start building, you need to survey the attic’s condition. If you’re lucky it could have flooring, ventilation and electrical wiring – but in many cases, the attic is just an empty space. This can impact on how much work you will need to do to make it a comfortable and productive office. You will need to check building standards for roof heights, lighting and air flow so consult with a builder and structural engineer to determine how viable the project will be.

You might also want to think about home loan refinancing, so you have flexible funds throughout the process without paying excess on interest.

Stop, insulate and listen

Once you’ve got permission and paperwork to start work, the first things to think about are insulation and flooring. You will also need to check joints in the ceiling. After all, the floors need to be able to withstand the weight of desks, chairs, cabinets – and you! Before you lay flooring think about how you will keep the room cool during summer and warm in the winter months. A consistent temperature will also save money on energy, so it might be worth connecting your home’s central cooling and heating system to the loft.