Best Flooring Options to Finish Your Attic

The attic, often overlooked as mere storage space, holds immense potential for expansion. If you’re starting an attic renovation, flooring is one of the first things to consider. From a construction perspective, the attic is crucial in providing your house with insulation and structural stability. A wrong flooring choice or improper installation can result in hefty repair costs running into thousands of dollars. Elegant Floor Services guides customers in Silver Spring, MD, in the best attic flooring ideas for their unique space.

Choosing the Ideal Flooring for Attics

The seasoned attic flooring specialists at Elegant Floor Services offer various choices for ideal attic flooring. Some of the most common attic flooring options include:

• Tongue-and-Groove Wood—Tongue-and-Groove refers to routed profiles along the boards’ edges, allowing them to interlock quickly and easily with their neighbors. The only downside is that seasonal temperature changes can cause the boards to expand and contract, creating small gaps between them over time. These flooring panels have an interlocking feature, making them easy to fix.
• Luxury Vinyl Plank—Due to their sturdy nature, Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring products are a top choice for attic flooring. Made from a hardy plastic material that resembles natural wood, the planks can endure scratches, varying temperatures, and humidity.
• Engineered Hardwood—If your preference leans towards genuine wood, engineered hardwood demands less upkeep and refinishing than standard lumber. It consists of actual hardwood affixed to a plywood tongue-and-groove base, offering additional support and minimally expanding or contracting compared to pure hardwood panels.

Essential Factors About Finishing Your Attic’s Flooring

It’s paramount to thoroughly inspect your attic space before venturing into floor installation. Some attics require a significant revamp before flooring, while others are not simply designed to be completed.

The following are some crucial indications when assessing your attic’s aptness for flooring:

• Floor Joists – Floor joists are the horizontal components that will form the framework of your finished attic flooring. The size and intended use of the space will determine the need for either 2×6 (1-1/2-in. x 5-1/2-in.), 2×8 (1-1/2-in. x 7-1/2-in.), 2×10 (1-1/2-in. by 9-1/2-in.) or 2×12 (1-1/2-in. by 11-1/2-in.) joists. The broader and closer the joists, the firmer the attic floor will be to bear furniture or heavy elements. If your joists are just 2×6 or 2x8s, it would be wise to halt any proceedings until a proficient builder has fortified the floor frame.
• Framing – Contemporary roofs often incorporate preassembled trusses that perfectly mirror your roof’s design and shape, simplifying and accelerating the framing process for builders. Trusses can significantly limit the available attic space due to their floor-to-ceiling layout. If your attic features trusses, then it’s probably better to utilize it merely for storage. Roofs that incorporate rafters or structural insulated panels (SIPs) are an exception as they produce spacious attics.
• Insulation—Many old home attics were designed for storage only and lack roof insulation. Instead, they depend on insulation situated between the attic floor joists to regulate the temperature in the rooms beneath, keeping them warm during winter and cool in the summer. If this describes your situation, you have to install insulation methods, such as batts, spray foam, or blown-in cellulose insulation.

Key Points to Consider for Attic Flooring Installation

Apart from considering the physical structure, ensuring your attic has sufficient floor area for its anticipated use, such as a bedroom or storage room, is essential. It’s essential to remember that various neighborhoods will not acknowledge an attic where the roof height is under 6’8″ to 7’6″ from the floor. While you can proceed with the project, it won’t contribute to the lawful square footage of your residence. Our team will meet with you to determine if your attic is suitable for storage or living.

Professional Attic Flooring Installation Benefits

While installing loft flooring on your own may seem cheaper, it could result in substantial house repair costs over time. Some of the most important advantages of employing our professionals include:

• Precise Estimations on Weight Distribution – Our experienced team members can precisely evaluate your attic’s components, such as joists, trusses, insulation, and more, to determine the best reinforcement strategy.
• Innovative Flooring Suggestions—If you want to create additional habitable space or boost your property’s value, our professionals can recommend modifications that will add the most value.
• Preemptive Measures—Our experienced team knows how to install attic flooring properly. When you attempt this independently, you risk costly mistakes.

Contact Elegant Floor Service

Elegant Floor Service helps customers choose the best attic and home flooring. We’re here for you whether you want to use your attic for additional storage or a living space. Contact us today to learn more about attic flooring.