Space is often an issue for growing households, and sometimes, all it takes is the addition of one new family member (human or otherwise!) to make a home feel cramped and like you’re all living on top of one another. This is when a home addition can be such a great idea, and they don’t have to be huge and mega expensive, either. By adding a few square feet to your existing home you don’t have the expense, inconvenience and stress of having to move, and when the job is done well, it can help increase the value of your home, too.
Here are a few things to think about when planning to add a modest addition to your home:
Consider your needs and priorities
Before starting any kind of addition project, it’s important to carefully consider the space that you currently have, and what you would like to change in order to meet your needs. Clear goals can help when planning and budgeting for a modest addition.
Should you add on or remodel?
Once you’ve identified your needs, think about whether an addition or a remodel would work best for you. Could remodeling give you the space you need without having to add any square feet, or would that simply give you a nicer looking home that’s still cramped?
By adding on to your home, you can get the extra square footage you need, but it could cost significantly more than a remodel, depending on its size.
Remodels can be effective provided the existing square footage is creatively adapted to make more space, and if changes to infrastructure, plumbing or electrics are required, a remodel could come in at a similar cost to an addition.
Choosing the right kind of addition
Below is a list of some of the most popular types of home addition:
- Second story
Giving you more space without you having to increase the footprint of your home, you could add another bedroom or master suite over a certain part of your home, or add an entire new floor. Roof dormers are also a popular way of expanding a space without big changes needing to be made to the floorplan.
- Bump-outs
A lot easier to build and a lot less invasive than adding a full extension on to your home, small bump-out additions typically give enough space for extra storage such as a walk-in closet, or a bigger bathroom, for example.
Attached accessory dwelling unit
ADUs can be anywhere in the home, but are often added above garages, or involve garages being converted into self-contained living spaces. Some families use them for their own purposes, while others rent them out for the extra income.
If your home is feeling as if there isn’t quite enough room for everyone to live comfortably in it and enjoy their own personal space, your thoughts might automatically turn to relocating, and moving into a bigger home. But, with some careful planning and budgeting, a modest home addition could prove to be the more convenient, affordable and practical solution. Provided you take the time to consider all of your options, and seek guidance from a local construction company who have plenty of experience with home additions, you could enhance the space in your home with minimal effort, and continue living there comfortably for many more years to come.