Couldn’t agree more about the insulation—trying to save a few bucks there just isn’t worth it in the long run. I went with dense-packed cellulose in my garage conversion, and while it took a bit more time to install, it’s made a huge difference in comfort (and utility bills). One thing I wish I’d budgeted for was better lighting—those old fixtures just didn’t cut it, and swapping them out late in the game was a pain. And yeah, code compliance feels like a hassle at first, but it really does pay off for peace of mind and resale. There’s always some surprise, but if you plan for a little extra cost and time, it’s a pretty rewarding project.
Lighting is such an underrated part of these projects, right? I ran into the same thing converting my attic—ended up with this weird mix of cold spots and shadows. Did you find cellulose helped with sound, too? Mine cut down street noise way more than I expected.
Funny you mention cellulose—I've actually had mixed results with it for sound. It definitely helps, but in some cases, especially with older framing or lots of air gaps, you might still hear a fair bit of outside noise. Sometimes mineral wool does a better job for soundproofing, though it's a bit pricier and trickier to install in tight attic spaces. Lighting's a whole other beast... I usually end up recommending layered lighting: recessed cans for general light, then some wall sconces or lamps to soften those shadowy corners. It's wild how much the right lighting can change the feel of a converted space.
I hear you on the cellulose vs. mineral wool debate. I tried stuffing cellulose in our attic conversion, thinking I’d finally get some peace and quiet, but my neighbor’s dog still serenades us at 7am. Mineral wool was tempting, but my wallet started sweating just looking at the price tags. As for lighting, I once thought a single bulb would do the trick—ended up with a room that felt like a haunted basement. Layered lighting really does make it feel less like a storage closet and more like an actual bedroom... or at least somewhere you’d willingly spend time.
As for lighting, I once thought a single bulb would do the trick—ended up with a room that felt like a haunted basement.
I get the pain on insulation costs, but honestly, skimping there can backfire long-term. I’ve had to redo cellulose installs when buyers complained about noise or drafts—ends up costing more than mineral wool would’ve upfront. As for lighting, you’re right about layering, but don’t sleep on natural light. A skylight changed the whole vibe in one of my flips. Sometimes it’s worth biting the bullet on these upgrades if you want the space to actually add value.