Since day 1, the attic has been an exciting piece of the old house puzzle.

This hole, where the ladder was placed way too low for this girls comfort, we saw the awesome-ness of the attic. The original wood ceiling where it was patched with any kind of wood they could find. Where the two brick chimneys run through to the roof. Where dreams were made to create another space. The possibilities were endless.

The main house alone is enough, but what do we do? Create another floor of living space. A place where we will definitely spend a lot of time. A place where we will have friends over, hang out with our family……a movie room.

As the plans were made, Plan A, B, C and D didn’t work due to the headroom needed for a staircase. However while the plans were being created, the work started. It not only would be a movie room but it was also the ideal place for air conditioning duct work. We started by placing plywood over the rafters so there were places to walk. Scary? yep. Smelly? Yep. The old insulation made me sneeze and cough.

I would shimmy up the ladder, scootch onto the piece of plywood barely on the edge of the attic floor. Lay down and pull myself onto a piece of plywood that I was sure would move and plummet me to my death through the ceiling of the second floor. Dramatic? Yep

The ceiling rafters of course were not all the same size – so  2 x 4’s had to be installed to level them up for the recessed lights to be installed

Once the plan was finally finalized on where the stairs would be, the ceiling was removed to prepare for the new stairs and the ladder was moved to a new giant hole in the ceiling.

The stairs will start in one of the bedrooms on the second floor.

There will be a landing and the stairs will turn and enter the media room

Here is the new ridiculous ladder I must climb

At the top of the ladder there are 2 knee walls.

Permitting requires 3/4 plywood to be used as a floor. We first insulated the floor and then laid the plywood. Just think about the carrying of insulation and super heavy plywood from the truck up the first flight of stairs and then up the ladder.

In each corner of the attic there are storage rooms. One is filled with air conditioning equipment and the other will be free for anything we need.

Yes we still smile and we still have fun with each new adventure.

This past weekend, the stairs were put in. No more ladders to the attic!!!!

Things are moving along and we are super excited.

Love,

the girl who is grateful for stairs.