Room Additions - Which Direction?
by Kim Kinrade
When a family grows and room in the home becomes tight many homeowners begin thinking about getting a bigger one. This could include building new or just upgrading to a larger structure. However, there are a few obstacles and outright roadblocks to moving in addition to the move itself:
- Finding a larger home you like.
- Finding a larger home you like in the neighborhood you want.
- Selling your present home.
These are three very important considerations and all three have to be met before a successful upgrade can occur. Many people who want to upgrade find the home of their dreams in the perfect area only to have problems selling their own home. They go through months of carrying two mortgages or, in the worst case, lose their new home through financial woes. However, if you like the neighborhood you are in presently you might think about adding on to your existing home.
Adding On
The simplest way to add space to your present home is to add on to the side of the home. The only drawback is if you have the land space. In cities this may be difficult because there are restrictions to how close you can build to th property lines. To get a permit the city planning office would have to be shown how far the addition extends. If this stipulation is met then you are home free.
- Reasonable Cost:The cost for building the addition will be on par with building a new home because, for the most part, after the new foundation is in they are constructing. Most of the small amount demolition needed would be in taking out the wall separating the room and joining the new addition with the present roofline.
- Very Little Life Interruption: After your plan is approved the contractors go about their business on the side of the home and your life is not overly interrupted, especially if you work at the same time as the crew doing the renovation. The hammering and power tool sounds will be gone by the time you get home. The only inconvenience is when they take out the wall between the new addition and your present space.
- Very Little Mess: When the two living spaces are combined, even it is only adding a door, there may be dust and debris until the finishing work is done. Most of the mess will be from the drywalling but after its all painted you can begin using the new space.
Going Up
Taking the roof off a home and going is not a straight-forward job. In this case the construction is not only costly and time-consuming it requires the complete uprooting of the occupants.
- More Costly: Unlike adding on horizontally to the present structure going up another story requires taking off the roofstrengthening the walls and foundation of the present structure.
- Unforeseen Obstacles: Contractors may run into other extra jobs like fixing rotted areas andhaving to strengthen the roof joists on the rooms below
- Takes More Time: Depending on how the previous construction workers built the roof it may take more time to take it off. The extras involved with this can mount up as the workers discover more problems
- Mess From Construction: It stand to reason that any work being done above the home would result in dust and sometimes debris falling into the living quarters.
- Occupants May Have to Move Out: Most contractors will advise the homeowners to live elsewhere while they are working. This is also a safety issue.
- House Subject to Damage From the Elements: Until the new structure has been built and made “weather-tight,” that is, roof and windows finished, there is always a chance of water leaking in from rainstorms. This, of course, come right into the living area.
Going Down
Excavating for a basement can double your living space without destroying a perfectly-good roof, without taking up yard space or contravening height restrictions in a classic neighborhood. However,excavating may involve tearing out the existing concrete slab floor then pouring a new concrete foundation and basement floor.
In either case the structure has to be lifted before the excavation can begin. This means a jacking company lifting the house off the present foundation and secured high enough for the work to be done. Some basements are dug manually which saves digging up great amount of your yard to fit in a backhoe. However, it takes a great deal more time and costs more.
- Could Be the Most Costly: Depending on whether it's digging under a crawl-space or slab and what type of ground is below.
- Takes Time: This will, again, depend on the soil conditions and how the basement is excavavated and the home lifted.
- Big-Time Mess: Major landscaping will have to be done after the project is complete.
- Occupants Will Have To Move Out: The occupancy permit will be pulled by the building inspector until the project is complete to his or her satisfaction.
In comparison to going up, the cost may be lower if the ground is soft and the trades are efficient. In fact it may come in cheaper than going up a story and life may return to normal a lot quicker.
For more information on room additions contact:
City of Rock Hill
P.O. Box 11706
155 Johnston Street
Rock Hill, SC 29731-1706
Phone: 803/329-7012