Planning a Home Addition

If you are considering a home addition, there are several important factors you should review when drawing up plans. Taking all aspects into consideration will ensure the most cost-effective design. Three of the main factors that will need your special attention include your utilities, outlets and switches, and heating.

Utilities: Does your addition require that you relocate utilities? If so, you will need to inform your service professional about the relocation because often times bringing in plumbing, electricity or a gas or phone line may require wall or structural changes. Informing your service professional will also let them know if a subcontractor will be needed in order to help complete the project.

Outlets and Switches: Before building a new addition, you will need to consider how many electrical switches and outlets the addition will need. Every appliance will need an outlet and it is the safe bet to include a few extra outlets as well. Also keep in mind that there are new switches available now that offer an array of wonderful features. Some switches offer full-range dimming, others offer a delayed fade from on to off feature, and still there are dimmers that remember a range of settings as well. You can even purchase switches that automatically turn lights on when a person enters a room. If you want to get really fancy, you can install central lighting controls that operate lights anywhere in the house!

Heating: When it comes to heating, your new addition can either be heated from an existing source or a separate system can be installed. If a separate system is to be installed you should once again refer to the section on utilities. A gas line or plumbing may need to be brought in and this will have an effect on the structural elements of the new addition. Be sure to contact your service professional.

If you decide to install a separate heating system you have several options to choose from. Radiant heating is one of your options. With a radiant in-floor heating system, heat will be radiated from your floors and into your addition. This happens as hot water circulates through pipes under your floors. In order to install such a system, your service professional may need to enlist a plumber. On the other side, if you end up having electric baseboard heat installed, you may need to hire an electrician.

Forced-air heating is another option. With this system, air is drawn from the room through ductwork to a furnace, where the air is filtered and heated. Forced-air heating systems are made in several sizes of each model. Models include "upflow," "downflow" and "horizontal" designs which can accommodate to a basement, attic or limited-space installation. Lastly, you can combine a forced-air system with an air-conditioning unit, a humidifier and/or an air filter.

Be sure to speak with your service professional about all the possible ways to heat your new addition. The best means of heat will depend on the size of the addition and the location of the addition. During the planning process you should review your options carefully with a professional. Obviously, the least expensive route is to use your existing heating, but if you are building a rental unit it is important to have a separate unit installed.

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.