Adding another room to your home is a great way to increase the amount of space you have and add on to the value of your house. Since every lot and property are different, it is important to work with a skilled team of licensed contractors and an in-house designer to ensure that all important factors are considered and you aren’t left with an awkward floor plan with a room that clearly looks like it was just added on. Here is everything you need to know about room additions.
Types of Room Additions.
There are a variety of different room additions you can add to your house. An additional room is often used for another bedroom, office, or family room. When adding an additional room, you can either build out or build up. Another common addition people do to their homes is build a sunroom. These are a budget-friendly alternative that creates a great space for anything from relaxing and enjoying the view to entertaining guests. A third type of home addition is a detached addition. These can range from a small detached shed-like room without electricity or heat all the way to a full guesthouse with all the bells and whistles.
Building Out.
Building out typically involves adding another room on the ground level, which is one of the most common types of room additions. This process extends the house’s perimeter outwards, so pouring a new foundation and losing some yard space are two of the downfalls to choosing this type of construction.
Building Up.
This is a great way to expand your living space without increasing the footprint of your home. When doing this type of addition, you can add a room to the second story of your house or even add an entire second story onto a one story home. Building up means that your contractor won’t have to pour another foundation, but they will most likely need to strengthen the existing foundation to support the extra weight you are adding on. You will also need to add a staircase and make sure your town doesn’t have rules regarding how tall your home can be.
Zoning Restrictions.
Some cities have limits on how high you can build your house as well as what you can build on your property and where. It is incredibly important to look into these restrictions before planning your project to make sure it is even doable. We recommend working with skilled professionals who are well-versed in your city’s zoning and development restrictions so you can trust that things are being handled the right way – this can save you a lot of money in the long run.
Blending the Addition to Your Home.
We’re sure you’ve seen the random room additions that stick out like a sore thumb and clearly were added to the home after the fact. If you are going to invest in a room addition, you really should do it right to ensure it adds value and aesthetic instead of looking awkward. If your home has wood floors, you should consider installing hardwood floors in the addition. You should also plan to use roof shingles that match your current shingles, or if your roof isn’t in the best shape to start, maybe it’s time for a new roof so that all your shingles match and look their best. Another thing to consider is the siding of your addition – it might be difficult to find a perfect match to your vinyl, stucco, brick or stone siding, but make sure you find a similar color and texture so it blends well with the rest of your home. You’ll also want to make sure your windows, doors and wall trim in the new addition match as closely as possible to the rest of your home so that the addition looks seamless.
Adding Value to Your Home.
While room additions are one of the more expensive upgrades to make, any improvement to your home will add value to to your property, especially when you are increasing the overall square footage. If your goal is to sell your house soon, you might want to invest in remodeling your current home in order to get the biggest return on your investment. If you are planning to stay in your home for at least 5-10 more years, then a room addition could be just want you need to keep you and your family happy and comfortable in the space you’re in. Additions that bring the biggest return on your investment are two story additions with a master suite and downstairs living area, followed by master suite additions, added bathrooms, and finally sunrooms.
Finding a Professional.
When building an addition onto your house, it is incredibly important to find a professional, licensed contractor who is insured and has plenty of years in the business. It is also ideal to find a company that has a team of skilled craftsmen and connections with workmen with specialty trades, so you can work with one company instead of 10-35 different crews for your project. Not only should they be able to complete the actual job itself, but the company you work with should do a lot of research before even meeting with you to better understand your property and what they are able to do to it. Our team of professionals gathers detailed information about your home, including property and zoning stipulations and restrictions before we meet. During our initial consultation, we work with clients to understand their unique needs, and we provide ideas, sketches, cost ranges and a bevy of images from previously completed projects that may be similar in nature. Check out some of our San Diego projects here.
Ultimately, a room addition is a great way to add square footage and value to your home. There are many different ways to go about an addition, and we highly recommend working with professionals who have years of experience in room additions similar to the type you are looking for. We have been in business in San Diego for over 10 years and our specialties include a wide range of projects that mix construction and beautiful design. We manage the entire process under one roof so you don’t need to work with 10+ different teams for your project. Have confidence in both the build and design for your project by going with our team of professionals. If you are considering a room addition any type of construction and design to your home, give us a call! Our team is here to make your life easier and add value to your home for years to come.