Adding an Addition to Your Home
Home Addition
For most homeowners there benefits to building on an addition to the existing structure. An addition can add square footage to the home’s floor plan and offer extra living space. It can mean an entire extra room like a bedroom or a bathroom. By adding rooms and/or square feet to the home it can also help increase the appraised value or the asking value of the home. However, it is a huge task that can be costly in terms of money and time; but it is a worthwhile investment in the home. No matter why a homeowner chooses to build an addition, it is necessary that the new portion of the home match the older portions. When an addition has a design that is different than the rest of the home, it can end up devaluing the home and cause aesthetic problems.
Take Time for Proper Planning
In an interview with a home builder in Dunwoody, GA he suggested that before you ever start building a new addition you should get your property appraised by a professional. It’s also a very good idea to discuss your plans with a qualified real estate agent who can make some suggestions on how to make the most out of the addition. They can offer advice on how to best improve the home and increase its actual value or selling value. You also want to remember that an addition should be only as large as the need. It is just adding unneeded costs by building more space than what is necessary.
Local Regulations and Stipulations
Before you begin building find out what types of building permits may be required by the local government. These can be required by state, county or city governments; and neighborhood associations can also have their own set of regulations or guidelines that must be satisfied. It is important to secure any permits before beginning otherwise it can mean a huge delay which can be inconvenient in the middle of a project. Some areas also have different types of legal restrictions and limit where building can occur. In some neighborhoods there are guidelines that require the exterior of the new addition matches the rest of the house. Some regulatory guidelines may also state how close structures can be to property lines, the height of the structure, and other building codes that have to be followed. Some areas are historic districts and are subject to different types of preservation ordinances. It is important to check out all of these areas prior to beginning a building project.
Where do I start?
It is always best to start a building project with a well laid out plan. Start by making a list of the problems the new addition is going to solve; and also list the main goals that you want to achieve such as improving indoor space or providing space for entertaining guests. After you have compiled your list, rank all of the items in a prioritized order. This will help you when you start talking to contractors who are trying to determine where to put some of the important features like plumbing and wiring.
Matching the Exterior of the Home
In many cases the outside portions of a home are constructed of materials that make it easy to match with a new addition. When the plan is successful the house and addition should match perfectly so that there is no sign that the new portion was constructed separately. As long as you use the same types of materials for construction it should be easy to match it up. If it is a painted surface, it is likely that you will need to paint the entire structure in order for it to match. It can work well for the homeowner to build the addition just before planning on doing some house painting.
In some cases, the home is an unpainted surface such as rock, siding or brick. The most important thing is to clone the original surface so that they are identical. If it is not possible to match the materials perfectly, try to at least match the same vintage and tonal range. Just use a texture that is slightly different. This will be less noticeable and help the addition blend in better.
Take Time for Proper Planning
In an interview with a home builder in Dunwoody, GA he suggested that before you ever start building a new addition you should get your property appraised by a professional. It’s also a very good idea to discuss your plans with a qualified real estate agent who can make some suggestions on how to make the most out of the addition. They can offer advice on how to best improve the home and increase its actual value or selling value. You also want to remember that an addition should be only as large as the need. It is just adding unneeded costs by building more space than what is necessary.
Local Regulations and Stipulations
Before you begin building find out what types of building permits may be required by the local government. These can be required by state, county or city governments; and neighborhood associations can also have their own set of regulations or guidelines that must be satisfied. It is important to secure any permits before beginning otherwise it can mean a huge delay which can be inconvenient in the middle of a project. Some areas also have different types of legal restrictions and limit where building can occur. In some neighborhoods there are guidelines that require the exterior of the new addition matches the rest of the house. Some regulatory guidelines may also state how close structures can be to property lines, the height of the structure, and other building codes that have to be followed. Some areas are historic districts and are subject to different types of preservation ordinances. It is important to check out all of these areas prior to beginning a building project.
Where do I start?
It is always best to start a building project with a well laid out plan. Start by making a list of the problems the new addition is going to solve; and also list the main goals that you want to achieve such as improving indoor space or providing space for entertaining guests. After you have compiled your list, rank all of the items in a prioritized order. This will help you when you start talking to contractors who are trying to determine where to put some of the important features like plumbing and wiring.
Matching the Exterior of the Home
In many cases the outside portions of a home are constructed of materials that make it easy to match with a new addition. When the plan is successful the house and addition should match perfectly so that there is no sign that the new portion was constructed separately. As long as you use the same types of materials for construction it should be easy to match it up. If it is a painted surface, it is likely that you will need to paint the entire structure in order for it to match. It can work well for the homeowner to build the addition just before planning on doing some house painting.
In some cases, the home is an unpainted surface such as rock, siding or brick. The most important thing is to clone the original surface so that they are identical. If it is not possible to match the materials perfectly, try to at least match the same vintage and tonal range. Just use a texture that is slightly different. This will be less noticeable and help the addition blend in better.