Going up with your home addition, or out, is a choice facing many homeowners wanting to make their property bigger, and often, the reason for wanting to do so, will influence the direction of the build. For example, if you want to extend your kitchen and make it larger, going out is the natural choice, while a homeowner wanting to add more bedrooms to their home, would likely go upward.
However, it isn’t always that straightforward, so we’ve compiled a short guide to both options – building up, or building out – to help you make a more informed choice:
A short guide to building up
Going up – by adding another storey or a room over your garage, for example – is one way of increasing the size of your home, without having to change its actual footprint. However, in many cases, it’s necessary for your chosen construction contractor to dig up and strengthen your existing foundation along with your walls, to make sure they’re capable of supporting the new renovations.
One significant advantage of going up with your addition project, is that you won’t lose any of your existing garden space, but always be aware that it does cost more, especially taking into account the reinforcement work that will likely be needed for your foundations and walls.
A short guide to building out
When building a ground level addition, whether for an extended kitchen, garage or conservatory, it’s important to remember that the footprint of the home will be expanded, so naturally, if you don’t have the space or planning permission to increase your home’s footprint, going out will not be an option. However, adding on at ground level is relatively straightforward in comparison to going up. Your chosen contractor will excavate an area of your yard before laying a new foundation slab, and going on to add walls, windows and a roof. Lastly, a wall section will be broken out to create a linking doorway.
Typically involving less in the way of disruptions, and often taking less time – provided you work with a professional and experienced construction firm – building out with your addition project can be a more affordable option. That said, you will be forced to sacrifice some of your outdoor space and depending upon the state you live in, some building restrictions may apply.
The decision to go up or out when adding on to your home will depend on several factors, but the most effective way to make the decision that will work best for you and your home, is to talk your options over with a local construction firm. They can give you a much more accurate breakdown of the estimated costs and timeframe of both types of addition, and help you with any permits that may be required.