The home I live in is very old, how old I have NO idea. We bought it from an old lady in 1971, and she had lived here most of her life.
The Attic in this house is HUGE. There are windows at each end, stairs that go up to it. To me it looks like the home was built with the idea that If needed they could finish the attic for more living space. I haven't meausured the joists to see what size they are. My question is: What do I need to check to see If this attic can be refinished, and made into living space? I'm not positive on this but the roof joists look like 2 X 4's, I know that If I have to insulate the roof, I will need to tag on some 2 X 2's to the existing 2 X 4's, to accomodate for the insulation. I guess my main concern is the floor (or ceiling joists) being large enough, and not having to add larger joists before the remodel. We have lived here for 30 years, and the attic at one time was just a junk collector, there used to be TONS of stuff up there, and the floors have held up, but the attic has never really had a complete floor, there were some old boards someone nailed down up there to use the attic as storage. I just need to know what to check for as far as the floors are concerned. If I need to add larger joists, then I may just chuck the idea. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks, Len Parr aka maddog5461

 

Jack the contractor is the person to answer your question, but he is probably very busy right now. Where he lives the pretty much shut down late fall to early spring cause its too cold for the tools. Hammers shatter when its that cold.

Email him if you don't get an answer soon.

If my dad was still alive I'd ask him. He finished our attic into a bedroom when I was just months old.
The floor joists need to be beefier than 2x4s. Sorry I'm not more help.
Basically, the floor joists need to be more than 2x4.