Page 34 2025 Spring Home and Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS April 2025 Continued -- No matter what your reason for converting attic space, Benett says, “it’s important to prepare before you, or a professional company, begin to convert the attic space into something new.” Benett points out that “small mistakes, like ignoring ventilation or underestimating the weight of furniture, can lead to bigger issues later. That’s why preparing the space the right way is extremely important for a successful attic conversion project.” Before the project is started, everything you no longer need should be cleared out of the attic followed by cleaning every surface. Once the attic has been cleared, Benett says you need “to understand the structural and safety consideration.” As she notes, “some attics have strong floor joists, while others are more decorative than functional. If your attic wasn’t built to support weight, reinforcing it becomes extremely important.” Attics structures are usually rafter-built or truss built. Benett says a rafter-built attic “has an open, spacious feel.” She says the truss-built attic “is trickier because of the support beams crisscrossing everywhere.” After you know the structure of your attic, Benett says, it’s time for some safety considerations.” To look at how safe your attic is, begin “by looking for weak floors, exposed wires, and low ceilings.” If you are not sure about these areas, Benett says to “hire a professional to inspect things out.” For your attic to be both functional and comfortable year round, Benett says you need to plan how to vent and insulate it. When you begin planning, “start by planning for vents Continued --
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