I live in a newer townhouse with an unfinished attic that's full of support beams (a bunch of 2x4s). I'm curious if it's possible to re-engineer and reposition these support beams to create a room in that space. Any thoughts?
2 Answers
It's unlikely that your attic floor is designed to hold much more than insulation. Most attics aren’t built to support heavy loads, so definitely think about this before making any changes. If you can share some photos, it might help others give you better advice on what you could do.
I’m working on a similar attic project and it’s been a real hassle! Just a heads up, roofs usually have rafters or trusses instead of beams, and you can't just remove them without a structural engineer's approval. If you want to make the space habitable, you’ll likely need to reinforce the framing below for the extra weight.
Totally agree! Many attics aren't designed for anything beyond basic storage. Make sure you check if your attic was built to support what you're planning.
Yeah, especially if there are just 2x4s up there. They might not be strong enough for storage, let alone a full room!