Turning an Attic Into Another Room

Run electrical outlets into the attic. This should be done before the walls are closed in. Unless you have prior experience with wiring, call an electrician and have them perform the work.

Add ductwork and vents for heating and cooling the room. Contact a heating and cooling company to do the work for you unless you have experience in this type of work,

Cut rolls of fiberglass insulation to fit the spaces between the wall and ceiling studs, and staple it to the studs. Wear gloves, a mask and protective glasses when working with fiberglass insulation.

Measure the size of the walls and ceiling. You will need the exact size for the walls and ceilings to get enough drywall for the job. Most drywall comes in 4-by-8-foot sheets. After you get your measurements, calculate how many sheets of drywall you will need. For example, if a wall is 8 feet wide and 9 feet tall, you would need 3 sheets of drywall for that wall.

Create a subfloor if the attic has only floor joists by screwing sheets of plywood into the joists. Use a circular saw to cut the plywood panels to fit.

Hang the drywall by screwing it into the wall studs and ceiling joists. You will need a friend to help you hold the sheets in place, since each weighs in excess of 40 pounds. If the drywall is fastened properly, the screws should just dimple the surface of the paper on the drywall.

Apply a thin coat of mud over each joint with a drywall trowel. Place the drywall tape over the mud and press it in. Give the mud time to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. Apply a second coat of mud over the tape. Once this is dry, sand everything down.

Prime the drywall and let the coat of primer dry, then paint the drywall, using a water-based latex paint.

Install a carpet pad, then stretch and tack carpet into place, or put down laminate padding and install the laminate over the padding.