Ideas For Your Home Addition

By building a home addition, homeowners can make their homes more livable, while also increasing its value. A home addition allows you to comfortably stay in a home and neighborhood you like without incurring the expenses and inconvenience of moving. The idea is to increase space by building on, up, out, down, or in any direction from the existing home structure in order to create additional living space and enhance the quality of life within your home.

The direction you build your addition in will depend on a few important factors. You will be able to pin point which direction is right for you once you understand the basics of home additions. Furthermore, consulting with a professional about what type of addition will work best for your home may also benefit you in the long run. However, there are several things you can do on your own and we recommend that you do. Below are a few helpful steps to guide you through the basics of home additions.

Ground Level Home Additions

The first step is to sit down and think about all the ways in which you could expand your ground floor. For those that live on a thousand acre ranch this should be no problem, but most of us have a finite amount of space to work with. In fact, the majority of homeowners are constantly trying to maximize what little property they have. Expanding the ground floor is wise because it appeals to home buyers, should the time come for you to sell one day. Ground level additions are also convenient for households that have elders living in the house because it eliminates the need for difficult stairs.

If you do decide to go with a ground level addition, you will have to prepare for the addition to expand into your yard and change the shape of your home. The most common addition is the one that expands into the back of your yard. Many people will add a sunroom or extend their living area in this way. It is popular to do this because the addition won’t change the look of your home from the street. For those of you with large yards you shouldn’t have problem, however, if your yard is small you will need to determine property lines.

Second Story Home Additions

Another popular addition is when you build onto the second story of your house, such over a garage. Building up is a little trickier because you will have to schedule your addition during cooperative weather conditions. During a second story addition there will be a time when a portion of your roof will be open and you do not want poor weather conditions entering into your house. Keep in mind, depending on the situation it is sometimes less expensive to build up because there won't be any need for foundation building.

Before considering a home addition, make sure that you take into account the hidden costs associated with a new home addition. It’s really quite simple if you think about it. As size of your house increases, so will the amount of heat it will take to warm the temperature up. Likewise, you will need more cool air to keep the space cool. You might also have to re-carpet several rooms in your house to match the new carpet in the addition, and your furniture may need to be replaced as well. Be sure to consider the increase in bills beyond what the actual addition will cost you.

Looking For More Information About Home Additions?

Building an addition onto your existing home is a great investment. You'll want to make sure you are choosing the right contractor for your project and your budget. We offer Free Additions Price Quotes from local, prescreened contractors.