Does your house seem to be getting smaller? Perhaps your family has spent too much time packed together in the last year, there is a new baby on the way, or you simply require more space for your home office or hobbies. If relocation isn’t an option, now is the time to expand your living space. How would you go about it? How do you plan for a successful house addition?
Here are tips given by home addition companies on how to go about it:
Have clear goals
The first step in designing a home addition is determining what you want to achieve. You can get ideas for your house’s expansion from the internet or a magazine. However, you cannot afford to proceed without first considering how it would play out in reality.
Determine the objective of the home addition. Are you expanding your home’s square footage to improve its worth, or are you attempting to create a private refuge for yourself?
It is important to determine the size of your house addition, as well as the plan and materials to be used in the design and construction of the house.
Understand the addition as much as possible.
You must ask the proper questions to receive the correct answers for your home expansion project. This calls for you to research the addition as much as you can. Some of the questions you should ask include:
How much will it cost? You should research to obtain a general estimate of the cost of home extensions in your area and then consider the specifics of your property and the expansion. It’s from this that you should create a budget for your project.
Will it be worth it? A reasonable estimate of the project’s cost will be useful here, allowing you to weigh the prospective advantages against the costs. If you want to increase the value of your home, a costly extension project may not be worth it.
Discuss your home improvement plans with a local realtor to determine how they will affect the total worth of your home.
However, if your goal is to raise your and your family’s level of life, you may be able to justify the project costs. Many people are ready to bear the expenditure if they want to stay in their homes for the long term.
How much will the addition change the layout of your home? It is vital to evaluate how the home addition will affect your home’s current layout and flow. For example, adding a new level to your home will require the construction of a stairwell for access, and you will need to locate a suitable location for the stairway.
What amount of space do you have for a home addition? Determine how much space your current home layout allows for additions. You should also contact your zoning agency to find out more about setbacks in your location.
Is a house extension truly the only option? Instead of constructing an entirely new structure, you might be better off recycling rooms and relocating walls to make the most of your current home layout.
Take time to understand the different types of home additions
You have various options when it comes to selecting and designing a home expansion. They include:
Building an additional floor: This is frequently the most efficient way to add extra space to your home and can considerably boost its resale value. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive, with expenditures easily running into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
You should hire a contractor or architect to assess your home to ensure that it is suitable for a second-floor addition.
Finishing your basement: Excavating the basement is a common way to add more room to a home. You can use the extra room to create a basement apartment, a home office, a home theater, or a recreational area.
Converting your porch into a sunroom: If your front porch is a favorite relaxing location for you and your family, you should consider enclosing it and converting it into a sunroom. Add comfortable furniture, warmth, and lights to provide an extra living room.
Finishing your attic: To make your dusty, old attic into useable space, ensure that at least half of the ceiling is seven feet high and that a stairway connects the attic to the rest of the house. Finished attics can make excellent guest bedrooms and playrooms.
Add an extension to the side, front, or back of your house. Side and rear home expansions are rather common. Front extensions are less frequent, so check to see if your district allows for them. To guarantee that the design is consistent with your existing home layout, you should consult with a home addition planning specialist.
Building cantilever additions: Cantilevers, also known as bump-out adds or room extensions, are micro-extensions of rooms supported by joists and internal structural elements. They often range in size from 2 feet to 10 feet. Cantilever extensions can accommodate walk-in wardrobe closets, kitchen counters, and an eating area in the kitchen. You can also build a separate master bathroom with a shower from them.
Work with experienced contractors
The importance of working with reliable contractors cannot be emphasized. Unless you have the necessary professional experience and time, you can quickly get overwhelmed.
Don’t let the cost of employing a contractor prevent you from doing things correctly. Remember that you can negotiate costs with your contractor. You can offer to do some of the job yourself in exchange for a reduced price.
You should meet with local contractors to discuss the project, the expected timeline, and potential cost-cutting measures. A contractor will also direct you to an architect or structural engineer who can inspect the project blueprints.
Working with home addition contractors DC with several years of experience can save you time, money, and heartache. To avoid surprises, make sure that all costs are clearly stated in the working contract.
Parting shot
These are the things you should know when you are looking to add an addition to your home. As mentioned, ensure that you work with experienced professionals who will not only help you build the addition but also guide you through the process.
