What You Need to Know BEFORE You Add On to Your Home
There are many reasons to consider adding onto your home. Maybe you really love your neighborhood but have outgrown your present residence. Maybe you've added kids to the family or the kids have gone and you want to spread out for your empty-nest / grandparenting years. Or is it a drop-dead gourmet kitchen that’s caught your fancy or the idea of some outdoor entertaining spaces for guests? Whatever your reasons for flirting with a new addition, many of the things you’ll want to do should occur before you break ground on your new room or rooms.
DO NOT PASS GO
Whoa! Before you contact an architect or designer, before you start sketching the plans for your addition and shopping for window treatments and throw pillows, visit your local building authority and investigate community zoning laws which will dictate where you can add on, - how large of an addition you can build and whether you can add on at all. Next, schedule a visit with your neighborhood building committee or homeowners association, if you have one. Your HOA may retain the legal authority to enforce construction design aspects, such as the pitch of your roof and What type of shingles or siding you’re allowed to use. I know that all sounds boring but once you’ve dotted those is and crossed those t’s, you can move on to the fun part.
GET A PLAN
OK, I’m going to be boring again (just for a second). Figure out your budget. Decide how much you can afford to spend and whether there’s any wiggle room, should the project start going over budget. Building an addition is more expensive per square foot than building a new home, because labor increases when the foundation crew, framers and roofers have to tie the new structure into the existing one. Before your meeting with your builder or architect, make a sketch of the addition the way you see it. These professionals can take your plans (no matter how rough) and turn them into a professional working blueprint.
CONSIDER THE INSIDE AND THE OUT
An addition is not just going to alter the inside of your home but can drastically change the way the outside looks from the road or yard. Talk to your builder and/or architect about how the new addition will match the rest of the house, in shape and materials. An architect should be able to produce sketches that give a sense of how the your home. One way many homeowners get around this is to add onto the back of the existing house, hiding the new construction from the road. But you’ll still want continuity back there too.
SELECTING A CONTRACTOR
We've all heard horror stories of disreputable contractors, but you a little sleuthing beforehand. Of course you want to ask for and check references, but you can take things a step further. Talk to local lumber retailers and your local building authority to find out what they have to say about contractor you’re considering. Ask for a certificate of insurance (sent directly from the insurer to you) and check with the local or state licensing commission, the Better Business Bureau and websites like AngiesListcom. keeping things“ livable for you
CODES & INSPECTIONS
Most communities have building codes that represent minimum standard construction practices. When you apply for the building permit, you should receive a list of applicable codes. As work on your addition progresses, local government building inspectors will check to make sure the wiring, plumbing, framing and foundation meet code, at predetermined stages. This is We,ve an heard horror stories of f for your protection. Your contractors should take care of scheduling these inspections. However, if you’re heading up the project yourself, it’s up to you to know when to call for these inspections.
This is not a step you want to skip.
TIME TO START
If you’re planning to live in your home during construction, you’re going to want to talk to the contractor about your family. It is not unreasonable and is in fact common practice for you to ask them to construct the shell of the addition before tearing out the adjoining wall. You or they should make provisions to seal off the rest of the house to reduce dust infiltration into living areas. (Some of it will find its way in anyway, but you can greatly reduce the mess.) Talk to your contractor about a designated worker path that will allow electricians and plumbers to access your home’s electrical panel and main plumbing, without disturbing you.
MINIMIZING DISRUPTIONS
From the day the excavators start digging to the moment the landscapers plant the last sapling, potential chaos is just a heartbeat away. Pandemonium can be avoided or greatly reduced with a good construction schedule and open, ongoing communication between homeowners, contractors and sub-subcontractors. Ideally the next sub on the list should be ready to begin their aspect of the addition, the moment the previous sub finishes up. If a sub shows up and you’re not ready for him, he’ll go to another job and you might not get him back for a week or two. If you’re going to be your own contractor,find out when each sub is available, and contact subs immediately if the project planning, be flexible and expect that some delays will be inevitable. Weather woes and material delivery delays can derail the best timeline.
SUMMARY
A well-constructed addition can be a good investment, helping to increase the value of your home and your enjoyment of it. It can be a great alternative to buying a new home or building a house from scratch, especially if you're fond of your neighbors and neighborhood. It can be a. means of saving money, investing in your home and customizing it to serve your family’s specific needs and wants. By planning ahead you can make the home addition process enjoyable for yourself and the professionals you employ.
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Creative & Practical Design For Your Home.
11322 Hillside Glen Trail
Houston, Texas 77065
800-777-7777
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