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Q.
I’m having a 1 ½ story home designed. Currently there is not a designated area
for attic access. First question is do I need attic access in a 1 ½ story home.
Secondly if so where is a good place to have the access so that it does not
look bad? Thirdly should I have the architect designate the access or is it
best to have the builder add one during construction?
A. Whether or not
an attic access is required may depend on your local building codes, but here
is how I feel about it. If there is an attic space that is large enough for a
person to walk or crawl through, build in an access. Wiring, fan ventilation
ducts, and other "behind the scenes" features that make up the house often run
through an attic space. Sooner or later you will want to have access to service
or change or add onto some thing that is in that space.
If it works with your space, I would put the attic access in a closet. See this
How To article for a simple way to provide an entry through the
ceiling or wall
of a closet. If you can't fit the access in a closet try for a hallway ceiling
that is not too visible from your main living spaces. A less desirable
possibility is a corner or a guest bedroom or other room that is not generally
open to visitors. Just keep in mind that when you want to get into the attic,
you will need to get to that access door, so try to avoid blocking it with
heavy furniture or stored items.
If you have a large attic space, you may want to have easy access so that you
can use some of that space for storage. If that is the case, you will want to
make sure that the ceiling joists are sized to support the load. I would
recommend that you get the architect involved if you plan on using the space
for storage. There are some manufactured pull-down folding ladders that you may
want to take a look at if you are serious about using the attic for storage. I
would also suggest some sort of plywood floor for the area you will use. It's
fairly embarrassing (and a bit painful) to step on the plasterboard and fall
through to the room below.
If you expect to have a good working relationship with the builder, you can
work out the details of attic access together. If you want to make sure that
the access is provided where and how you want, have the architect show it on
the plans. If you expect to use the attic for storage, the architect can make
sure that it will work and make sure that any code requirements are met.
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