Improvements to Make to Your Attic in 2020

When it comes time to make upgrades to your home in 2020, don’t forget about your attic! Improving your attic gives you a prime opportunity to increase your home’s value while also creating a space that you’ll want to use more often.

Here are four home improvements to make your attic better this year.

Air Sealing

It’s not uncommon for attics to have large air leaks. This can make it nearly impossible for you to keep your home at a reasonable temperature. By air sealing your attic, you will alleviate these issues and reduce your home’s heating and cooling costs.

Insulating

If your attic isn’t insulated, this will negatively affect your entire home’s energy-efficiency. Without adequate insulation in your attic, you’ll lose a lot of conditioned air during summer, and you’ll lose much-needed warmth during winter. Your roof can also swell because of heat building up in your home’s attic. Insulating your attic with reduce all of these problems.

Decluttering

Has your attic become a place where you store everything? If this is the case, then you should declutter it in the months ahead. While an attic is a good place to store your items, you probably have a lot of things that you simply don’t need anymore. These items might be taking up a lot of space that could be better used for a different purpose. Before 2020 is over, make it a goal to sell or donate the unnecessary belongings in your attic.

Repurposing

Your attic can do more than just store some of your unused items. You can repurpose it so that it becomes another space for you to use. Your attic can become an office, playroom, movie room, or even a spare bedroom. You will probably need to paint it, add flooring, install a ceiling fan, and furnish it. If you always feel like your home is just a little short on space, then making your attic into an extra room is definitely a project that you should undertake in the new year.

Before you get started…

A clean attic is a must! Whether you plan on repurposing your attic, using it for storage, or simply upgrading its insulation, make sure to get the space thoroughly cleaned first. At GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, we offer professional attic cleaning services to prevent common problems related to moisture, pests, and poor indoor air quality.

Creative Ways to Repurpose Your Attic

Who couldn’t use a little bit of extra space? Adding new rooms to your home is expensive, but you might already have an unused space that’s full of potential right about your head: your attic! 

Here are four creative ways to turn your dreary attic into a great room.

Brand New Bedroom

Are your kids constantly fighting over their shared space and close proximity? Do you have a new bundle of joy on the way? In either case, you can convert your attic into a new bedroom. Of course, you’ll want to make sure it’s a safe and clean environment. You can do this by meeting your area’s building codes and hiring professional attic cleaning services.

Creative Office Space 

Separating your work from your personal space can be difficult, especially when you work from home. Your attic is the perfect place for a private office. If you’re in the creative industry, you can even convert your attic into an art gallery or photo studio. It’s a spacious area that can fit all the furniture and supplies you need. What’s even better is that it’s far enough from the rest of the bustle of your home while still being close.   

Fun-Filled Recreation Area 

Whether your kids are toddlers or teenagers, they’ll love having a designated recreation area. With just a few additions, you can turn your attic into the perfect playpen. Just add fun board games, toys, and a lounge section. If you want to invest in something larger, you can even get a ping pong table. Your home will be the hot spot where everyone in the neighborhood wants to hang out.  

Entertaining Media Room 

If the living room doesn’t fit your entire family comfortably, transform your attic into a media room. The dark, enclosed attic space will replicate a movie theater’s environment perfectly. Add a comfy sectional, storage for blankets, and a large-screen TV. You can complete your new home theater with a snack bar. 

Feeling Inspired?

Just remember that when it comes to transforming a dusty, old attic into a habitable place, the most important thing is the safety and health of your family. Turn to GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, the experts in attic and crawlspace cleaning, to help you transform your attic into the perfect addition to your home.

Watch Out for These 4 Attic Issues

Your attic can be a very easy part of your home to overlook, especially if you only visit it every so often for storage purposes. However, even if you don’t use your attic on a regular basis, it’s a good idea to go and inspect it every so often to make sure it’s free of common attic issues.

While most homeowners wouldn’t consider themselves to be home inspection experts, these are some common attic problems that you can spot without any special training.

1. Pest Infestations

Insects and small creatures (including rats, raccoons, and squirrels) can make a comfortable home for themselves in your attic if left undisturbed. When you inspect your attic, be on the lookout for animal droppings or anything that looks like it may have been chewed or clawed, including your attic’s insulation. Rats, in particular, are notorious chewers.

Checking for termite damage is also important. Inspect your attic for weak or hollow wood. If you hear clicking noises, that’s probably the sound of termites chewing.

2. Exposed Electrical Wires

It isn’t unusual or dangerous for your attic to contain electrical wires. However, if those wires have not been properly secured or if their copper has become exposed due to corrosion or pests, those wires can become a safety hazard. If you find exposed or damaged wires in your attic, for your safety, it’s best to contact an electrician to repair and secure the wires.

3. Insulation Problems

Attics are prone to a number of insulation problems. The most common problem is inadequate insulation that ends up causing higher heating and cooling bills. Another problem is damage to insulation from rodents and raccoons that tear it apart to build their homes. In addition, some older homes still contain asbestos, which brings with it a number of health risks. To learn more about the condition of your attic’s insulation and how best to improve it, it’s wisest to consult a professional.

4. Roof Leaks

What starts as a leak in the roof of your attic can eventually become a problem for the rooms below. Water damage from leaks can also contribute to mold and mildew growth, as well as pest infestations.

Bring a good source of light if your attic doesn’t have one already, and inspect the ceiling, beams, and walls. Look for telltale signs such as stains and warped or bubbling spots on the ceiling.

If you suspect that your attic has water damage or if your attic needs to be deep-cleaned, GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration is ready to provide you with an effective, bio-safe solution.

3 Things You Shouldn't Store In Your Attic

Out of sight, out of mind. This cliché perfectly describes most of our attics.

While you may think that your attic is the perfect storage solution for all of your unused stuff, this is far from the case. Dust, high humidity, mold, leaks, and creepy crawlies are all commonly found in attics, which is why you should avoid storing these three things up there.

Wood Furniture

If you have recently purchased new furniture for your home, you may be tempted to throw your old pieces in the attic. If this furniture is made out of wood, you should think again. The attic is often home to high humidity levels, which can cause mold to grow on your wooden furniture after an extended period of time.

Books, Photos, and Important Documents

Some of our most valuable possessions come in the form of paper. Whether it is a birth certificate, the deed to your home, or sentimental photo albums, you should avoid keeping these things in your attic. Exposure to high humidity, roof leaks, and extreme temperatures can distort these documents and smudge the writing, not to mention they are the favorite food of a common insect intruder known as the silverfish.

Fabrics

Many people use their attic as storage space for old clothing, spare bedclothes, and even extra fabric they may have lying around. While you may think this is a good idea, in reality it isn't. Rodents and moths can wreak havoc on textile items by inhabiting them, eating them, and even leaving their droppings in them.

Are problems such as mildew, leaks, and pest infestations making it impossible to store anything in your attic? If you live on Long Island, call the attic cleaning professionals at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration. We can fix a variety of problems such as bugs, mold, moisture, and bad odors using our environmentally-friendly cleaning methods. Call (631) 940-8100 today for a free quote.