Some old houses have attics the size of a small barn, complete with dormers for light and air. You want a few extra bedrooms or maybe a bowling alley, no problem. But in most houses these days the ...

Without an attic ladder or set of stairs, a home’s attic usually has untapped potential. Homeowners know it’s up there, but it’s a hassle to access for storage, much less use as a living space.

One of the largest storage areas in many homes is often wasted because of poor access. The area is the attic, which in some cases must be reached by crawling through a tiny trapdoor in the ceiling of ...