2020 Fall Home Improvement

Page 12 2020 FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT Lincoln Daily News September 24, 2020 home may very well be unlivable, at least for a time. Consider where you will go if and when that time comes. Converting an attic into living space with a dormer Building a dormer into your attic can be a great idea. The dormer will increase the floor space of the attic and perhaps make it possible to turn the area into bedrooms for the kiddos or a bonus room for hanging out. There are some cautions though. Before you take that step, examine what you already have. Is there a reasonable amount of head space in the area already? Can you walk about without bending? If the attic is too shallow or the pitch of the roof so dramatic that head space is limited only to the peak of the roof, then you may need to move on to the next idea. According to the article in Space Wise, you can save money if you do the dormer yourself. Again, if you are handy with a hammer and saw and feel confident you can connect the dormer properly to the existing roof, then go for it. The money you may save building the shell yourself can then be utilized for the electricians and other professionals you will need in order to turn the attic into a livable space. If you plan to do the shell yourself, be sure to check with your local building and zoning office. When you hire a contractor, that person is responsible for attaining the necessary building permits for the job. If you do it yourself, you still have to have those permits. The local zoning office will be able to advise you on what you need. Convert your garage into living space Depending on whether or not you are willing to sacrifice the garage, this can be an excellent solution, especially if you are bringing a loved one into the home who needs a ground floor dwelling. In the blog Renovate America the article How To Convert Your Garage to a Comfortable Living Space (https://www. renovateamerica.com/blog/how-to-convert- garages) speaks about the many uses for a converted garage including what they call the “granny flat.” There are a number of reasons why this is a good idea. If you are bringing in an aging loved one, you want to consider that you are going to be taking away a portion of their independence. A separate, compact living space helps them feel like they are still in control. Build the garage to suit the needs of the loved one, include a bath and perhaps also a small kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, sink and cabinetry. This is another project when seeking professionals to do electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and even drywall is a good idea. At the same time, there are portions of the renovation that you can be a part of along Continued n