Attic Bathrooms: Is it Feasible?

12 May 2021

When homeowners feel the need to expand their living space, the basement is often the area that comes to mind first. Yet the attic is also a feasible space to consider. Since most people use their attics for storage, there is little to do before design plans and construction begin. The attic can easily be cleared of stored items within a day or two.

The main reason that the attic is equally favourable to the basement for renovations is that the primary structural building is already in place. The more costly aspects of the building like exterior walls, supports and roofing were completed when the home was built.

Adding a charming attic bedroom is relatively easy, low-cost and sensible. The only other major essential part of the project is adding an attic bathroom.

Practical Steps to Adding an Attic Bathroom to Your Home

When planning the addition of an attic bathroom to your home, the following steps are necessary:

1. Decide Bathroom Type. Although a full-size attic bathroom provides ultimate convenience and comfort, the building costs are higher than for constructing a half bath. For the full bathroom, you need more supports beneath the flooring for installing the bathtub or shower and additional water pipes and drainage lines.
2. Determine Bathroom Placement. If you can place your attic bathroom near the centre of your home, you can take advantage of the highest area of the roof in most houses. If possible, position this new bath directly above an existing bathroom or your kitchen. This will facilitate installing essential items like water pipes, electric wiring and vents as well as drainage and sewage lines.
3. Obtain Building Permits. Since attic conversions must comply with local building codes, you must obtain a building permit before the start of your project. You need permission to add living space within your attic. There are additional regulations for adding a bathroom to any area of your home.
4. Strengthen the Floor’s Structural Support. In most homes, both rafter ties and ceiling joists will need reinforcing before the construction of an attic bathroom. Most attic floors can support only a maximal dead weight load since they are typically used to store boxed items without excess weight.

Before installing furnishings and occupying this space, the flooring must be strengthened to accommodate the live weight of permanent fixtures, furnishings and people. Your builder or contractor can help you plan the details of this step.

5. Design Attic Bathroom Floor Plan. Now you and your building team can finalise your new attic bathroom floor plan. With careful measuring and planning, you can fit all of the necessary furnishings, fixtures and accessories into a compact yet full bathroom. A standard alcove bathtub and a pedestal sink can fit snugly into your bath design, allowing room for all of the other essentials plus attractive decor.

By contacting our expert team at New Life Bathrooms, you can obtain top-calibre advice, designs and construction services for your new attic bathroom. Our experienced professional designers and builders will ensure that your stylish and practical new bath will completely satisfy and even surpass all of your expectations, desires and needs.