Many Chicago homeowners may want an additional room in their house, and the most popular possibility is by building an attic. Though it may be a cost effective solution for expanding your living space, construction is definitely not easy.

There are a lot of things to consider before you can build that overhead extra space. One is you have to make sure that the floor joists in the attic can handle the added load of a finished room or if reinforcement is needed. A convenient access to your attic should also be considered if you’re going to make it an office or a bedroom. This quote from general contractors' guide provides an understandable warning how altering those roof trusses might affect the structural integrity of your roofing:
If you want to live to see that new addition to the family, make sure your reciprocating saw stays in its case for now. The good news is you can convert that space above your garage into a room, but you're going to go about it with some help from a registered structural engineer.

Let's compare common roof trusses with the roof framing materials that were used in your parents' house. While they look the same, you probably didn't notice the subtle differences.

Most common attic trusses for homes and garages are made with two-by-fours. Typically the truss designer will specify a very strong wood species like southern yellow pine or even Douglas fir. A two-by-four on its own can't support lots of weight without cracking. So how do they stand up to heavy shingles and the occasional 2 feet of snow on a roof?

One thing you also have to think about when building an attic is the room’s insulation. Because of its location, attics are going to be really hot in summer and really cold in winter. That is why most attics actually have a separate heating and cooling system from the rest of the house. The roof will be the only thing that will protect you from the elements outside, so you have to make sure that your Chicago roofing is in tip-top condition to provide proper insulation so that you can be comfortable in your attic whatever the weather outside will be.

For your roofing needs, you can contact the most trusted roofer in Chicago, Pro Home 1 Inc. We offer high-quality brands in roofing products – from GAF to Owens Corning – to ensure that your roofing in Chicago can hold out to the city’s infamous winds and other intense weather conditions. We’ll be more than happy to assist you with your roofing needs – may it be for replacing your entire roof or if it’s for just repairs.