Everything You Need to Know About Home Additions

Building additions can be an exciting or daunting prospect. Yes, it is exciting because an addition will most likely increase the value of your home, but at the same time, having contractors traipsing through your home can be a daunting prospect. Remember, building the addition will end within a few weeks, and the benefits of living in an improved space will most likely outweigh the inconvenience. 

Complete Guide to Home Additions

There are different types of home additions that you can undertake depending on what is most important to you, the design of your existing home, how it will affect your family, and the local building laws and zoning considerations. 

If you need additional space and want to add extensions, you need to find out what you need to know before starting a home addition project. This usually includes ensuring you know what type of permits, zoning regulations, and building codes your additional build will need to pass. Finding it all out at the planning stage will ensure your proposed renovations will be up to code.

Make sure you can visualize how the new part of the building will affect the existing structure. Don’t just start building additional floor space without properly thinking through all floor plans and possible roof joins. You don’t want to end up having to enter the master bedroom directly from the kitchen. 

Ensure you have sufficient space in your yard to accommodate proposed extensions, bearing in mind the restrictions on building onto the property boundary. If you don’t already have proper plans for your property, you may need to do a property survey to determine the exact property lines to avoid contravening local building laws. 

Also, your decision on whether to build out into the yard or add an additional floor to your existing house will need to be discussed with the contractor and an architect to ensure your foundations and your existing roof are suitable for carrying the additional weight of a second living level. If these will not support a double-level structure, the professionals will advise you about other options and help you estimate the build cost.

What You Need to Know Before Starting a Home Addition Project

Before starting your building project, you will need to decide the purpose of the additions, whether you want extra floor space or need to improve the fixtures and layout within your existing house. You may decide to only improve one or more existing rooms in your home, like renovating the kitchen or bathroom. Sometimes, just by renovating the kitchen, you will gain additional room and value that will make you feel like you are living in a new home.

One of the most important things you need to decide is whether you have the necessary budget to complete the proposed changes. Often things end up costing more than planned, and you don’t want to run out of money with things unfinished. 

Changing the look and feel of your home by renovating and building to increase the floor space can breathe new life into your existing property. By investing in the renovation, you will likely end up with a comfortable home that is more suited to your current needs. It will also save you from moving, which is a far more expensive option.

Categorised in: Home Additions