What is the purpose of an attic?

Question

In general, what is the purpose of an attic?

We were thinking of taking our 2nd floor ceilings and moving them up, hence getting rid of our tiny attic.

Or is there some reason we should be keeping attic?

Answer 1

The purpose of an attic is that it's a result of the was a building is constructed. In order for water to run off the roof - rather than into the house - the roof had to be pitched. This is done with roof rafters which sit on the outside walls of the building and lean in at a set angle until they touch in the middle. The space that's left inside is the triangular shaped space we call an attic. You can modify the space, but depending on the type of construction, balloon vs. platform, may need to consult a structural engineer. The ceiling that you are talking about modifying is also the floor of the attic space. The joists in that floor // ceiling plate are what hold the roof rafters in place. Think of a triangle, standing up on one side. The bottom of the triangle is the floor joists. The two top sides are the roof rafters. If you remove the bottom of the triangle, the weight pressing down on the roof rafters will cause them to spread outward, thus causing the top of the roof - the peak - to shift down. Not a good scene. When you're dealing with the supporting structure of a building hire a professional. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

attics are simply a space between the ceiling and the roof made necessary for the roof to drain. In the early 1900's we found that if you take out some trusses, and modify others this space could be used for storage, which is why the attic was created. There is no structural or other reason to keep an attic. Although, depending on how your trusses are planted you will probably loose some contact area by raising the ceiling, and your heat bill may go up a little because you will not be able to insulate the parts of the ceiling in contact with the roof (also depends on how you are raising the ceiling).

please consult an engineer before you start cutting any beams, joists, or trusses.

Answer 3

"Attic
This article refers to the area found generally above a house. For other uses see Attic (disambiguation). An attic is an area found directly below the roof of a building (also called garret, loft, hayloft and sky parlor). As attics fill the space between the ceiling of the top floor of a building and most often a slanted roof, they are known for being awkwardly shaped spaces with exposed rafters and difficult-to-access corners. While some attics are finished as bedrooms or home offices, complete with windows and staircases, most attics remain hard to get to and neglected, and are typically used for storage. Attics can also help control temperature in a house by providing a large mass of unmoving air. Hot air rising from lower floors of a building often gets trapped in the attic, further compounding their reputation for inhospitability."

To re-structure you're ceiling you have to have knowledge of load bearing walls. It is not just a matter of removing your ceiling and changing it to a cathedral ceiling. the structure is usually designed so that the lower part is holding up the upper part.

Answer 4

Creating an Attic Room
For many of us, the attic qualifies as a non-room. It lies empty and dusty, or at best it is used as a place where old and forgotten boxes and furniture sit and collect mold. This does not have to be the case, however. With some thought and originality, your attic can be turned into a functional and useful room in the house with a little bit of remodeling
(continued at http://interior-decor.blogspot.com/2007/10/creating-attic-room.html )

Answer 5

Helps keeping the heat up there and not on the ceiling of your top room in the house.

Answer 6

You need the actic to put the old lady in the rocker holding the butcher knife

Answer 7

Heat and storage