cheap plywood?

[ohbutitsshiny]

so, this weekend we finally busted into the attic of our home. expecting a tiny, nasty little space, we discovered a HUGE unfinished area! the ceiling is kinda low but with a little work i think we could turn the attic into usable space for something besides storage

Comments

[xmorningxrosex]

post a wanted ad on freecycle and craigslist

[center]

does "moving next year" mean moving by (early) 2008 or mean moving after (late) 2008?

If you're only going to be there for a year, I don't think it's really worth it to go to the trouble to "turn the attic into usable space for something besides storage"..

sure, put planks or wood down so you can use it for storage.. but how much work will it take? Also, the entranceway... is the ceiling/roof insulated? If not, then by creating a hole (opening) between your living space (insulated by ceiling/attic floor) and the uninsulated roof, you reduce the energy efficiency of your place..

[ohbutitsshiny]

yeah, we weren't going to pimp it out totally, just maybe clean it up, but some 'flooring' down, and a couple of bean bag chairs or something, just a place to sit around and chill. our house is really tiny so it's nice sometimes to sit somewhere that isn't one of the two existing rooms. i don't know if we're even going to do it, but i wanted to try to see how feasible it would be.

[tupelo]

Oh hay!

You might check Habitat for Humanity Restore, over by the main post office. They have a little bit of everything and are dirt cheap.

Someone who is a member here recently fell through their attic floor, and where they fell just so happened to be right over the stairwell, so they fell two stories. BE CAREFUL.

[ohbutitsshiny]

luckily my house is only one story, so if i fell it wouldn't be that far!

thanks for the tip! even if we don't end up doing this, i'll probably check out the restore just for fun.

[carosconundrum]

This is always my advice. There are always GREAT finds at the Habitat ReStore.

[munchkin1616]

you'd better stop until you get something in writing from your landlord. this could cost you HUGE and you could end up not being covered for any accidents without landlord consenting in your being up there or making any changes.

[ohbutitsshiny]

well, we're renting the whole house, of which the attic is an included part. i don't see how we wouldn't be allowed up there.

as far as changes go, we were planning on putting back whatever we changed, so it wouldn't make a difference. i'm pretty sure a previous tenant grew pot up there, judging by the left behind equipment.

[munchkin1616]

if the landlord doesn't consider that a space in which people would normally be, you're on thin ice, especially if you're putting anything in as additions, even nail holes bigger than allowed.

it wouldn't likely do any damage to ask for something written, s/he might even pay for the materials if s/he thinks it'll help sell it or rent it better in the future and if you'll do the work free!

[carosconundrum]

This is great advice. It never hurts to get your landlord's blessing before you do a project this big.

[arielhp]

i don't know what the dumps are like there, but check yours old.
they usually have pretty good wood piles.
there are usually signs about "no picking" but they really don't care.
i know someone that got all the lumber for her house at the dump, she just saved it up!
look for old doors, old windows, etc. too!
the dump is a fun place anyways...

[ohbutitsshiny]

oh man, i haven't been to the dump in years! great idea!

[arielhp]

thanks!
i can't believe i forgot about this, but dumpsters at construction sites are really good too!
(and as a reply to the person below me, you can tell when somethings got termites, or is rotten, just by looking at it, you'll know)

[ohsorotten]

I don't know much about dumpsters but I'd be scared of termites. Isn't that something to be weary of? Or do they sort bad wood from good?