Finished Attic Question..


  #1  
Old 12-29-06, 04:40 PM
J
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Finished Attic Question..

I bought a house recently and in the back yard is relatively new two story shed/barn the previous owner had built on a concrete slab.

It's 20+ feet high and 18 feet x 15 feet at the base.

I made a home office/workshop on the first floor and just recently finished it off. Dry wall, insulation in the ceiling/2nd floor, ceiling tiles.

I left the second store unfinishged for the time being. making an access door in the floor and builing a 2x6 ladder/steps leading up to it for access.

My plan is to finish the second floor as a guest bedroom/game room.

My question is this.

Two walls of the upper story are comprised entirely of the barn's sloping roof coming down the side of the building. The rafters are simply 2x4's.

The previous owner had put insulation between the rafters and then dry wall.

I removed the dry wall becasue I want to run new wiring lights/outlets.

I'm concerned about ventalation. WIth insulation between the 2x4 rafters there there's no room for air flow between the insulation and roof deck.

The rafters run all the way from the floor to the peak.

Would simply keeping the upper room itself well ventelated be sufficient?
(i.e. vent fan)

Or am I flurting with trouble?

Currently there are no windows/doors in the upper level but I plan on putting some in this Spring.

I've been reading everything I can find on finished attics but I can't find anything dealing with a structure that has 2x4 rafters.

Any suggestions?
 
  #2  
Old 12-29-06, 04:56 PM
J
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Pics of my situation

Here are three pics to help visualize what i'm talking about.

1 is an exterior view of the building showing the roof slope(s)
Another picture shows the 2x4 roof rafters of the second floor (taken before I finished the cieling on the first floor).
The last pic shows the steps leading up the the second story.

http://web.mac.com/jollybgood/iWeb/Photo%20Depot/Jolly%27s%20Sketch%20Book_files/IMG_0009.jpg

http://web.mac.com/jollybgood/iWeb/Photo%20Depot/Jolly%27s%20Sketch%20Book_files/IMG_0025.jpg

http://web.mac.com/jollybgood/iWeb/Photo%20Depot/Jolly%27s%20Sketch%20Book_files/IMG_0014.jpg
 
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Old 12-29-06, 06:56 PM
T
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Building codes, which vary from area to area, govern habitable spaces, including ventilation and insulation requirements. Check in with local building inspector re: plans, permits, and inspections.

In regard to your question re: 2x4 rafters and insulation, you should find the following thread on this website informative: http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=45995
 
 

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