Attic flooring is a great way to convert dead space in your home into a usable area that can add storage or even become a spare room. When preparing the attic for some sort of ongoing use, choosing the right flooring for the job will make a big difference. Here are some ideas on what types of attic flooring might be right for your attic finishing project.
If you are planning on only using the attic for storage, chances are that something simple like sheets of plywood will work fine for attic flooring. Relatively inexpensive, plywood sheets can be attached to the floor joists with ease. Because the sheets can be cut with a saw with very little effort, it is very easy to tailor sheets to create a sturdy and level floor throughout the space. Depending on your preferences, this type of attic flooring can be secured with nails or with the aid of wood screws.
While a plywood floor is serviceable, it is not likely to be acceptable if you plan on using the attic for anything other than storage. An alternative would be to use pine planks to finish out the attic flooring. As with the plywood, the pine planks can be nailed or screwed to the joists, creating a solid floor that will hold up for years. Once in place, you can complete the attic conversion by staining and sealing the pine floor, providing a rich touch while also bringing out the grain of the wood.
If you envision a lot of traffic in the space, you may want to go with a wood than is even sturdier than pine. Bamboo is an option that many people overlook. However, this type of wood is very resilient and will easily outlast many other kinds of wood floors. While flooring options of this type are a little more expensive, they easily make up the difference in the many years of service bamboo provides.
Keep in mind that the attic flooring itself is mainly to provide a stable foundation to the space. However, it is possible to finish pine, bamboo, and similar woods with any type of stain or paint desired. This makes it possible to use floor coverings such as area rugs rather than installing wall to wall carpeting in the space. As a result, you can keep the costs of your attic renovation under control.
As with any type of home remodeling project, it is important to take into consideration the purpose for the space, how much traffic the area must support, and also the general weight of the objects that will remain in the space long term. By keeping these factors in mind, it is possible to evaluate the several options for attic flooring, and settle on a type that will make your home renovation much easier to accomplish.
