JV Home Designs
JV Home Designs
What to Consider...
What to Consider...
If an addition makes sense to you and your home, building out rather then up can be more
affordable. There’s still plenty to think about before starting your project.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do you have room?
If your governed by land use codes or just don't want to give up your backyard oasis, building out may not be the right decision for you. But if you have the room to spare and the addition can be designed around your outdoor space, you addition can actually capitalize on a smaller yard.
Will it complete your house?
Think about the new floor plan you are considering( ex. adding additional bedrooms, relocating the kitchen, adding a great room.) and whether it will really fix the problem that you are trying to solve. If there isn't space at the main level, you may want to look toward the basement or expanding up for the answer.
Feasibility and Cost.
A main level addition on a flat property can be the least expensive square footage you add to your home. By throwing in steep slopes, addition below grade, complicated tie ins to existing, and difficult access to the construction area, the cost can easily rival the cost of a second storey addition or even higher. Talk with your general contractor about which parts of your plans are costly and make choices that will limit their impact.
Main level additions are often the simplest structurally. They can be built to code without having to retrofit much of the existing home or its foundation. This can help them cost less than second storey additions, which often require structural retrofitting down to the foundation, removal of siding and disturbing interior partitions walls.
The main trick with main level additions is connecting the new foundation to the old original foundation. This can get complex if the old foundation is made from brick or another reinforced masonry material.
Making it Match.
Anytime you add to the exterior of your home, you must carefully think through how the addition with either match or purposely look different from the currently finishes on the home. If you home has weather worn wood, vinyl or brick no longer in production, you will have to decide whether to replace the entire exterior finishes or have the addition not match. Consider windows too. If you have leaky old single pane windows, now may be the time to replace these with energy efficient ones!
An exterior makeover can up a project's cost, but it can also add value and give you home and updated look that makes your addition seem like its always been there.