66 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • SEPTEMBER 2019
INSIDE JOB FINISHING
Choose light
hues for a bright
and airy look.
Take advantage of
the economy of space.
Builtins work great in
dormered attics
By ARLENE GROSS
If you’re looking for a practical solution
for adding more room to your
house, consider turning that cluttered
attic into usable, livable space,
such as an extra bedroom, playroom,
office, or personal yoga studio.
Provided the space has a high enough
ceiling, a finished attic would be an
easier and more economical renovation
than adding an extension to the
house, notes Jean Brownhill, founder
and CEO of Sweeten, a free platform
that connects homeowners with vetted
general contractors.
“A playroom for the kids or an office
are best, because they don’t involve
any plumbing,” remarks Brownhill.
“Updating the space to include electricity
and plumbing could be costly,
depending on the current setup.”
START WITH A PLAN
Creating blueprints and plans for the
new space is key.
“Whether you work with a designer
or architect, someone should measure
and create drawings that the
general contractor and their crew can
follow during construction,” advises
Brownhill. “The project will likely
need to be approved by your local
building department, which may
require plans to be submitted, especially
if you are adding a bathroom.”
The condition of the attic will determine
exactly what renovations will
be required.
“You might need to add everything
from insulation to electricity and
plumbing, in order to properly
convert the space,” says Brownhill.
“If the ceiling is low or there are no
windows, creating a dormer or raising
the ceiling could be an option.”
ACCESSING THE ROOM
Say goodbye to those pull-down
stairs: You’ll want easier access to
the new room.
“If it’s a two-story home, we usually
have a staircase that can fit another
one above it,” says John Petsco, owner
of Miller Place-based Long Island
Creative Contracting. “If not, we have
to find a room where we can carve out
an access to the attic.”
Depending on the pitch of the roof,
stairs can be placed in a closet, room
corner or hallway, explains Petsco,
adding that stairs take up an average
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