← Paulinskill Lake House

Finishing the Attic Conversion

8 photos · attic

After the framing and insulation were buttoned up, I worked through the finish phase — gable windows, mini-split for heat and AC, drywall on the knee walls, and a tongue-and-groove pine ceiling that gave the room some character without fighting the slope of the rafters. Added a gable fan for ventilation and tied the new stairwell into the deck-side door. Took longer than I planned, but it's a real bedroom now instead of a storage attic.

  1. Installing the gable fan myself. Wanted active ventilation up here to keep summer heat from cooking the room. During

    Installing the gable fan myself. Wanted active ventilation up here to keep summer heat from cooking the room.

    attic
  2. Radiant barrier across the rafters, plywood subfloor down. Ready for the ceiling to go up. During

    Radiant barrier across the rafters, plywood subfloor down. Ready for the ceiling to go up.

    attic
  3. New drywall up, insulation behind it, joists still exposed where the floor finish goes next. During

    New drywall up, insulation behind it, joists still exposed where the floor finish goes next.

    attic
  4. New gable windows in and a drywall panel mounted below. Light finally getting into the space. During

    New gable windows in and a drywall panel mounted below. Light finally getting into the space.

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  5. Mini-split mounted under the twin gable windows. Cleanest way to heat and cool a finished attic. During

    Mini-split mounted under the twin gable windows. Cleanest way to heat and cool a finished attic.

    attic
  6. Through the new stairwell toward the deck door. Fresh drywall overhead, finally one continuous space. During

    Through the new stairwell toward the deck door. Fresh drywall overhead, finally one continuous space.

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  7. Tongue-and-groove pine ceiling up, plywood subfloor down, new heater in. Almost there. During

    Tongue-and-groove pine ceiling up, plywood subfloor down, new heater in. Almost there.

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  8. Finished — pine ceiling, drywalled knee walls, plywood subfloor ready for finish flooring. Real living space at last. After

    Finished — pine ceiling, drywalled knee walls, plywood subfloor ready for finish flooring. Real living space at last.

    attic
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