The Many Lives Of Your Attic

The attic is an often-underappreciated and undervalued space. But that spider-infested, dust collection zone at the top of your home doesn’t need to be a blank and useless space. Attics can be essential - and used for all sorts of purposes. A few things you might not have considered about your attic.

They Are Essential for Heating Systems

Some heating and air conditioning systems, such as HVAC types, make use of air ducts. These are almost always installed in attics. Companies like Attic Projects Services are air duct specialists – helping to install and improve duct systems in attics in order to make heating systems more efficient. 

Attics also sometimes house boilers. Being at the top of the house, the attic is a perfect place to put a boiler that relies upon gravity to distribute water. Bulky central heating components are often best housed in the attic space. 

They Can Drastically Improve Insulation

Homes that are correctly insulated are cheaper to run, more environmentally friendly, and worth more money on the market. Attics are very important to many insulation plans. Heat rises, which means that a great deal of heat is lost through the roof of a home. Insulating your attic with fiberglass matting can ensure that your home is easier to heat. Fiberglass can be dangerous because it can release sharp inhalable shards. If you insulate your attic using this material, make sure it is correctly covered or your attic will not be habitable for other purposes. 

There Is Room for Improvement

One of the best things about attic spaces is that there are multiple ways in which they can be improved, extended, and renovated. Adding roof lights and carpet essentially turns the attic into another room that is suitable for sleeping in or using as an office. If your house has a slanted roof, simple loft extensions can be added that drastically improve headroom. There is no end to the number of uses for a converted attic space. Converting your attic into a livable room is one way of increasing the value of your house. Attic conversions, for instance, can add up to 20 percent to the resale value of your home. 

Out of Sight and Out of Mind

Even a completely unmodified attic has a great many uses. Many people use their attic space as a convenient storage area for bulky items that they just can’t part ways with. Family treasures, old books, Christmas decorations: attics often serve to store items that are not used regularly but still need to be kept safe. Before using an attic to store items, it is worth considering whether they will be vulnerable to pests. Insects, mice, and rats often make a home in underused loft spaces, so make sure anything edible – including paper and card – is kept securely wrapped up. Attics are usually spacious enough to act as the largest storage space in the house.