The Complete Guide to Attics & Basements

by Philip Schmidt, Matthew Paymar

Complete planning & remodeling information for both attics and basementsBlack & Decker The Complete Guide to Attics & Basements is the perfect book for homeowners who need more living space but aren't able or willing to move to a larger home or build an expensive room addition. More than 75% of homes have unfinished space in an attic or basement, just waiting for a creative touch, and this book will show readers how to convert that territory into practical living space. Armed with this book, homeowners will be able to add a bedroom, bathroom, recreation room, or home office without changing the basic blueprint of the home.

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2007

Reviews

[Erin Stuhlsatz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also read the Complete Guide to Finishing Basements, which was similar but had a bit more focused on basements (surprise, surprise). Since this house doesn't have much attic, or any, I preferred the other, but this book was also excellent.

[Hava · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTE: This review originally showed up on my (now defunct) nonfiction book review blog. I read and reviewed this book in August 2008.

*****

I picked up The Complete Guide to Attics and Basements by Black and Decker because we were looking at finishing off the attic in our home. We own a Craftsman-style home built in the 1920’s, and we thought that it would be an easy way to add on square footage.

Well, I’m so glad I picked this book up because it’s saved us a whole lot of time and money. We found out from reading it that converting our attic isn’t possible. After reading the requirements for the ceiling height in bedrooms, we crawled up into our attic and measured. We barely hit 7 feet at the ridgeline, and according to this book, your ceiling has to be at least 7′6″ over 50% of the floor. We don’t hit 7′6″ anywhere, let alone over 50% of the floor, darn it.

We were going to hire someone to come in and look at our attic to give us some ideas on how to best finish it off, and I’m sure such a trip would’ve cost us several hundred dollars. That’s obviously not going to happen now. Apparently, reading books really can pay off, literally!

Even though this book spelled the end of one of our plans, I still enjoyed it. I was very grateful that it was clear, easy to understand, well laid out, with lots of illustrations and examples. I enjoyed the first section, where there were lots of pictures to give me fun ideas, and then the second section, where there were step-by-step instructions on how to do a wide variety of projects, from adding drywall to your basement walls to installing baseboard heaters.It is focused more on giving you a broad overview of the process and ideas rather than a manual with intricate instructions.

I would suggest checking it out of the library before buying it, just to make sure it’s got what you need, and it aimed at your level of expertise and expectations. But if what you’re looking for is ideas and some concrete tips on how to convert your attic or basement, you couldn’t go wrong with The Complete Guide to Attics and Basements.

Havs

[Catherine Woodman]

Let me start out by saying that there is not the perfect book for me and my attic remodel out there that I have seen--this one does cover the basics in therm of what you need to consider, and what problems you might face--it is not a book about how to lay out your new space. some good pictures, and the do-it-your-self pictures are very clear. THis one also is set up by the type of room you are looking for--bedroom, rec room, office, kid's room, and then has alot of design ideas for each of those kinds of projects--just did not have what I was looking for in terms of layout, but did have some good built-in ideas that are space savers--which if I am going to creat a small low-cost room, might be really useful.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I didn't read the whole book, but I read the parts that I needed for my next project.
This book has a pretty thorough description of how to add drains for a basement bathroom - which might be helpful for one of my future projects.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book... I'll have to get it again eventually.