It may be called a loft or an attic but many houses have transformed this little space into a beautiful living area. When thinking of finishing or remodeling an attic, the first thought that will come to your mind is the average cost of finishing attic. Yes, the price of renovation is always a factor that needs to be considered in this kind of renovation.
An attic is a space found right below your roof. Usually, its space is awkwardly shaped or slanted depending on the design of your roof and most of the shafts and beams are exposed. Many homeowners convert their attic space into bedrooms, home office, reading nook but mostly it is used as a storage space.
There are a lot of things that you can do with your attic and remodeling it may take up a lot of time to design and finish. But since most houses require more storage and living space the attic will definitely be a great way to expand 
your house. But not every attic has the potential for conversation. Some attic space is just too small to be renovated. But if you feel like your attic has potential then you would want to know how much does it cost to finish an attic.
Average Cost Of Finishing An Attic
The average cost of finishing attic will differ on the space and design. Before you start thinking of how you will finish your attic, it is important that you know what you would need to start the project. You would also take into consideration on how big or how small your attic is. You should also have a professional check whether it is feasible to finish your attic as a finished attic will weight a lot and you would need to know if your attic can carry the weight of the frame and materials.
A finish attic price will be about $50 per square foot. This cost will include the basic lighting of the attic as well as basic electrical outlets. The amount also computes the HVAC System, insulation, drywall, paint, trim works as well as standard level carpet. An average attic size would be 7 feet wide and 70 square feet. If so, the cost of your finished attic would be around $3500.
If your attic already has an insulator then upgrading the insulation is a smart move. If you upgrade your insulation, you can save as much as 50% of your energy cost. If you will hire a professional to upgrade your insulation, it will cost you $2100 but if you do it by hand then it will just cost you $700.
Cost of Hiring A Contractor To Finish Your Attic
Planning on finishing your attic but you don’t know where to start? The first thing that you need to do is insulate your attic. Make sure that there is a 1-inch air chute before the insulation is installed. You would also need to wire the room for electricity and place it in between the wall studs and insulation. You would then need to hand drywall over the wall insulation and paint it.
Do you have little time for such work? Then you can always hire a contractor. A contractor may charge you around $7000 to $13000 depending on the size of your attic. The materials of the project will account for 40% of the cost of the contractor while the profit will be 15 to 20 percent.
An electrician will charge you $65 to $85 per hour and if you will do plumbing works then a plumber may charge you $45 to $65 per hour.
DIY Attic Finish
If you have time to spare and would like to venture on a new project, then you can definitely start to finish your attic by yourself. The finishing materials that you would need are paint, insulation, board, screws, plywood, OSB sheets and nails.
The listed basic materials will be the basis of your finish attic price. A Kraft faced R-13, 23″ wide x 3.5″ thick insulator will cost you $0.37 per square foot while a can of paint will range from $20 to $130 depending on the quality and brand.
A 2×4 board is priced between $6 to $56 and a ¾ plywood costs around $10 to $53. Now that you have the basic materials ready, it is time for you to start insulating. While you are working on your finishing project you should consider hiring an electrician to do the wirings for you especially if you don’t have any prior experience in house electrical connections. In this way, you can keep your house safe from accidents that may be caused by faulty electrical wirings.
How To Save On Cost Of Finishing Attic?
Now that you know how much does it cost to finish an attic your next step is to find ways to save on cost. You can actually save on energy cost if you have designed your attic really well. The first way to save up on energy cost is proper insulation. Check the market for the best insulation that will work well in your attic.
Also, make sure that your room is well ventilated adding windows for fresh air or a skylight to bring light to the room. You can also install an attic fan. The fan will help reduce the humidity level of the room and heat as well. It will lower the temperature of the attic and make the room comfortable during the day.
You are now equipped with the right information on finishing attic. It is now up to you on whether you would hire a contractor or start a small project yourself. Any additional space in your house will be a great help as most family expands; may it be an addition bedroom, a private office, a play room or just an extra storage room, the attic can be a great space for the family. Don’t wait too long before deciding to finish your attic, start with a basic design and work your way to make your attic a beautiful part of your house.