12 Oct What No-one Tells You About Room Addition Remodels
When your home starts to feel a little too small, dated or dysfunctional, the idea of remodeling your home is likely to become a topic of discussion. If you need more space, but you love your location and you don’t want to knock down and rebuild, a room addition remodel seems like the option that makes the most sense. However, what many homeowners keen on remodeling don’t realize is that a room addition is like adding another miniature house to your existing house, and this new addition has to connect seamlessly with your current building. This process actually involves a vast amount of work and usually it’s worthwhile recruiting the assistance of a leading professional design-build remodel contractor in your area to ensure everything goes smoothly. However, room additions can be a more cost effective, easier and less stressful way to add more space to your home in many cases. Here are a few of the things you need to think about when considering room additions for your home.
Will A Room Addition Work?
It’s easy to think of simply adding a room, but it’s important to consider how a new room will fit into the flow and style of your home. Room additions can also take up space on your property, impacting your landscaping or change the façade of your home, so it’s important to consider the bigger picture. It’s a good idea to consult with an experienced design/build remodel contractor to establish whether your home’s structure and site is suitable for a room addition, before you make any plans.
Building Up, Out Or Down?
If you’re working on a flat surface, a main level addition can be one of the most cost efficient options per square foot. If you have to build up to add a second story or dig down to add a basement, the costs can begin to climb. Additional steps may be required for building up or down, or on a sloped surface. For example, when adding a second story, structural retrofitting down to the foundation, removing siding, and disturbing interior walls can be necessary, so be sure to consult with your remodel contractor about the plans for your room addition and what will be involved.
Matching Your Existing Building
There are so many aspects for which your room addition needs to match your existing building, from floor level, to wall and roof height, to materials and color schemes. One of the greatest challenges with a main level room addition is making sure the foundations match up, so that you get the right start to your addition. Try to choose materials that match what was used in your existing home, but if this isn’t possible, choose materials with the closest corresponding color and texture. When it comes to seamlessly blending a room addition with an existing home, getting the details right is crucial to creating an outstanding end result. What you see to the left is an example of a poorly planned room addition.
Utilities, Heating and Cooling
While your remodel contractor will arrange for utilities such as water, electricity and gas to service your room addition, you may need to put more thought into your new room addition’s heating and cooling. If you have a HVAC system or furnace for your existing home, it will be accurately sized to your current home area, and may not be sufficient for your new remodel addition. Discuss your options with your remodel contractor to evaluate whether your current system is adequate or whether you will need an upgrade.
Room additions can provide a convenient and effective way to expand the area in your home and give you more much needed space. However, it’s important to discuss all the details and considerations of a room addition remodel with an experienced remodel contractor before you take on the task.