Add value and living space to your home with new attic flooring
If you're a homeowner considering finishing your attic as your next home improvement project, there are a lot of choices you’ll need to make. Whether you’re having a pro convert your attic space into a living space or just DIYing a storage space, choosing the right flooring is crucial. These attic flooring ideas can increase your living space while adding value to your home—but before you jump into a DIY, you’ll need to get familiar with the particulars of your attic.
It can be easy to install flooring in an attic designed as a living space without making structural alterations. However, if you're converting a storage space to a living space—or an unused attic space to a usable space—it might be time to call in a home remodeling contractor near you.
If your space is completely unconverted, check the following to see if it’s a good fit for a home renovation.
Check your floor joists: Your joists are the backbone of your house. If your ceiling joists were only designed to hold up insulation and the drywall, they’re likely made up of 2-inch by 4-inch wood boards that aren’t strong enough to support a floor for a new living space. If your joists are larger—say 12-inch by 8-inch wood boards—you might still need to add structural support, especially to take the weight off of load-bearing walls. Either way, you should call in a structural engineer to take a look and make sure both your floor and walls can handle the extra weight.
Evaluate your space: You’ll need at least 70 square feet of floor space to build a small bedroom and enough attic access space to comfortably enter (ideally, through a door rather than a ceiling hatch). Most areas don’t consider places where the ceiling is low or slanted as usable space—though you can probably use slanted areas for storage or even closets. You also need to make sure you have room for the minimum ceiling required by local building codes, usually between 6 foot 8 inches and 7 feet. Make sure you check local building codes, since bedrooms have different requirements than storage areas.
Attic renovations might seem like easy DIY projects, but they can get tricky fast. Even if you are simply installing flooring for a storage room, it’s likely you will need a permit to move forward. Permits usually aren’t too pricey—they typically run between $100 and $500. Luckily this step is something a good contractor can take care of for you.
Structural requirements for attic conversions vary from state to state and depend on the type of roof you have. For example, if your roof is an A-frame supported by trusses, it won’t be advisable to move forward with a renovation as you won’t get much usable space. Flooring structures will need to meet the local building codes, and you’ll need to hire a local structural engineer to make sure your attic renovation idea won’t cause damage to your house.
You may want to spring for an attic inspection before you plan your project. This will help you understand your limitations before your heart is set on a certain design.
If you’re designing a living space, hardwood floors are desirable for their timeless look and their flexible use. This stylish option won’t need replacing often, but it might need refinishing for scratches or other damage every 5 to 15 years.
Hardwood's benefits might outweigh its costs—which can run between $5 and $45 per square foot. If you like the look but are concerned about saving money, you can buy tongue and groove wood flooring from a local home improvement store and install it yourself. Tongue and groove floors are relatively easy to install, and saving the cost of labor could go a long way.
Classic, high-end look
Extreme durability (some types can last a century with proper care)
Highly versatile and will suit almost any design style or color palette
Good for those with allergies, since it won’t collect dust like carpet
Higher ROI than other floor types
High upfront costs
Vulnerable to moisture damage
Prone to scratches and gauges, so you’ll need to refinish
Can be noisy, but attic insulation will help
Synthetic flooring can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), according to the Environmental Working Group
For most homeowners, hardwood flooring costs $900 to $12,000. It does depend on the size and state of your attic, along with the type of hardwood. For example, solid hardwood can cost anywhere from $5 to $28 per square foot, while engineered hardwood (which has a hardwood veneer on a plywood substrate) can cost between $5 and $16 per square foot. You may end up saving on prefinished hardwood, depending on local labor costs.
Laminate flooring is a popular choice for modern home renovations in any room. Laminate is a great option if you want the stylish look of wood, but don’t think you’ll be up for refinishing your floors. Its water-resistant qualities also make laminate a great choice for attics in case of small leaks.
Laminate floors might seem like a no-brainer, but there are some drawbacks. Not being able to refinish floors means if they become damaged you’ll need to replace them. Luckily, wood laminate is very sturdy compared to hardwood and with costs ranging from $9 per square foot to $20 per square foot, they’re certainly a more affordable option.
Budget-friendly
Resists scratching, fading, and spills
Can mimic high-end attic flooring at a fraction of the cost
Versatile, with options that suit any design style or color palette
Low maintenance
Easy to install and replace, since boards click together
Shorter lifespan (10 to 25 years)
Can’t refinish flooring—damaged planks must be replaced
Quality is variable, and low-end options can look very low-end
Vulnerable to water damage, particularly standing water
Prone to chipping
Laminate is actually one of the most budget-friendly attic flooring ideas. Most homeowners spend between $2,500 and $7,100 on their project. The cost of laminate flooring typically falls between $2 to $10 per square foot, including installation, while the material itself usually only costs around $1 to $3 per square foot.
Tile is a popular option for sunroom flooring, but it’s not always recommended as flooring for an attic. Since tiles are less porous than other flooring, they can trap air and cause problems with your heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. You’ll definitely want to check in with your contractor to make sure tiles are right for your space before installation.
That said, tile floors aren’t out of the question, especially for small areas like bathrooms or kitchenettes. Tile really runs a range of options and prices, but you can expect to pay on average between $15 and $20 per square foot.
Versatile, with options for every design style and color palette
Water-resistant, so it works well in attic bathrooms or showers
Durable, with a lifespan over 20 years if properly maintained
Easy to repair—you can replace tiles and regrout your flooring
Relatively low maintenance, just requires regular cleaning
Can cause heating, cooling, and ventilation issues in an attic
High material cost, particularly if you choose high-quality tiles or natural stone
Difficult to install, which drives up labor costs
Grout maintenance can be difficult, particularly if it stains or crumbles
Grout can attract mold
For most homeowners, the cost of tile installation is between $800 to $3,000—but that isn’t necessarily the cost of an entire floor. It depends on a number of factors like the size of the area, the size of the tile, and the tile material. Each square foot can cost $0.50 to $35 (or more if you choose a luxury tile) and that doesn’t include the extensive labor required for installation. Overall, ceramic tends to be the easiest on the wallet, while natural stone is typically a splurge.
Vinyl floors have increased in popularity with stylish advancements in recent years. Vinyl flooring comes in an assortment of looks and styles, and can even mimic the look of more expensive options like tile or hardwood floors. Many vinyl floors are both waterproof and stain resistant making them a perfect choice for an attic environment. You can expect to pay between $3 and $14 per square foot for most vinyl flooring.
Budget-friendly
Click-and-lock luxury vinyl is easy to install
Versatile options, including those that mimic higher end types of flooring
Scratch-resistant
Can be 100% waterproof
Great for pet owners
Shorter lifespan (10 to 25 years)
Standard faux options don’t look as realistic as laminate
Synthetic flooring can emit VOCs
Low ROI compared to hardwood and natural stone
Vinyl flooring costs as little as $1 to $2 per square foot for a basic sheet, or as much as $7 to $10 per square foot for luxury planks and tiles. Certain types can cost slightly more. All in all, most homeowners spend somewhere between $1,000 and $4,000 on new vinyl floor installation.
For a finished attic renovation, carpet flooring is one of the most versatile and inexpensive options on the market. For an attic area, we’d recommend getting a short or low pile carpet. Durable and easy-to-clean low pile carpeting is perfect for high-traffic areas or areas where you expect a lot of wear and tear.
You can even buy carpets that are treated to be water resistant. In fact, we’d recommend treated carpets for attic flooring since temperature, humidity, and moisture can vary in attic spaces. Carpeting is one of the most affordable options on the market costing as little as $1 to $5 per square foot.
Budget-friendly and easy to install
Warm and cozy feeling on the feet
Quieter than other types of flooring (carpet muffles footsteps)
Versatile options that suit any color palette
Prone to stains, but stain resistant treatment can reduce the risk
Poor durability, and needs to be replaced more frequently than other flooring types
Not ideal for people with allergies since carpet can trap dust, dander, and pollen
Increased maintenance (ideally, you should vacuum one to two times per week)
Not ideal for damp spaces because carpet holds moisture and can mold
It costs anywhere from $3 to $11 per square foot to install carpet in your attic. The price does depend on the condition of your existing floor. If you have to replace the subfloor, expect to spend an additional $3 to $10 per square foot.
If you’re looking for a cheap and durable solution for a studio space, storage space, or even a kid’s playroom, consider gym tile flooring for your attic renovation. You won’t get the sleek look that wood, laminate, or tile might provide, but this type of flooring is sturdy, waterproof, and easy to replace.
Styles suitable for storage areas might be as low as 50 cents per square foot or $4 per square foot for more stylish options (excluding labor costs). For attic flooring where spills or leaks might be a concern, gym flooring tiles are a winner. We give these floors bonus points for being easy to install and they can even be placed on top of other floor types for protection.
Flexible and durable
Budget-friendly
Easy to install, maintain, and replace
Water-resistant
Great for DIY installation
Quiet compared to other floor types (since rubber absorbs noise)
Limited range of options
Can emit a rubbery odor
Slippery when wet
Not aesthetically pleasing
Low ROI
This type of flooring is often used to save on the cost of finishing a basement, though it does work in attic storage spaces. Most homeowners spend $3 to $8 per square foot on rubber tile flooring, including professional labor. Rolled mats are even more affordable at $1 to $5 per square foot, largely because of the simple installation process. Costs will rise if you have to install or replace the subfloor.
Installing sheets of plywood over attic insulation is a popular choice, especially in storage spaces. That said, insulation works by trapping hot air—so it needs extra space to expand and be effective, or you might reduce the energy efficiency of your home.
It’s important that you never compress the insulation by installing flooring directly on top of it. In many houses, you’ll need to install a subfloor before putting plywood over insulation in your attic.
Not all attic floors are created equal—size, layout, and square footage often vary. The amount of weight an attic floor can hold depends on several factors including the joist size and position, any structural supports or subfloors, and the original intent of the attic design. Without structural reinforcement, your floor might only be able to support about 10 pounds per square foot of floor load before collapsing.
The cost to put wooden flooring in an attic can run a wide range. Carpeting can cost as little as $1 per square foot, or even less if you opt for unfinished flooring types like rubber or painted plywood. On the high end, hardwood floors might cost as much as $45 dollars per square foot. For a previously unused space, you’ll probably need to add a subfloor which usually costs about $5 per square foot.
Vapor barriers in attics are a bit outdated and most areas no longer recommend them for attic spaces. For vented attics, the best method is usually to install drywall and cover it with latex paint before attaching insulation fiberglass, cellulose, or foam insulation. When renovating an attic to use as a living space, a contractor can guide you on the best way to cover insulation.
