Have you ever wished for extra rooms to accommodate your growing family or you need to prepare for aging parents?
A well-structured home addition plan can maximize your home’s potential and significantly increase its value.
Diving headfirst without proper planning or help from an expert can lead to delays and building code violations.
A well-crafted home upgrade can personalize your living spaces.
So, keep reading as we provide expert advice on creating a successful home addition plan.
Establishing the Scope and Budget
A home add-on is comparable to building a new house.
It requires:
· Designing
· Budgeting
· Securing permits
· Hiring contractors and subcontractors
· Constructing the structure from scratch
Some homeowners may spend between $300/sq ft to $450/sq ft for a full-scale, multi-room home addition.
A more reasonable estimate might be in the low six figures.
Expect to spend $250,000.00 to $450,000.00 to add 1,000 square feet to a house.
Remember, the price depends on what you put into it.
A garage or room addition is the least expensive, however, multi-rooms with kitchen, and bathrooms will drive the cost upwards.
Secure Funding for Your Home Addition Plan
Most homeowners must secure a loan or line of credit for this project.
This process involves acquiring a home equity loan, second mortgage, or line of credit.
Equity is the home’s real estate value minus any outstanding mortgage.
Lenders may hesitate to loan homeowners who still owe 80-85 percent or more of a home’s assessed value.
However, there are other ways to secure financing, like borrowing against the value of a retirement fund or 90% of your life insurance policy to name a few.
Selecting a Home Remodeling Service
Homeowners will find hiring a general contractor (GC) for a room addition helpful.
Selecting a (GC) that specializes in the design process will be the most helpful.
They will provide ALL services from start to finish; Design through Completion.
Choosing a reputable contractor is vital, so take your time to find the right GC.
Ask for recommendations from neighbors, friends, or relatives.
Discuss the project’s scale, timeframe, design issues, and cost-saving strategies.
Working with an Architect
Some contractors can design your addition or use stock building plans.
However, in many instances, hiring an architect is beneficial.
Design-build contractors often use an in-house designer.
If you choose, you can hire an Architect on your own.
With plans in hand, you can have General Contractors bid on your project.
This approach can be more expensive, depending on how many revisions the architect has to make during the process.
Obtaining Permits and Site Preparation
These permits ensure that your home addition plan adheres to local zoning laws, building codes, and regulations.
This process involves submitting detailed project plans to your planning department.
The contractor you hire should handle this permit application process.
Upon securing the permits, they will post them on your property.
This display informs inspectors that all work done on the site is in accordance with local laws and regulations.
The permit also reveals information about the nature of the work.
Building the Foundation
Just like a new house, most room additions get a full-scale foundation, and any under-utility work that is needed, if any, (i.e. plumbing or electrical).
A specialist contractor hired by the GC can complete the foundation work.
It can take 3-7 days of pouring, digging, and curing the foundation.
After that, it should be ready for the framing crew to begin work.
Framing the Structure
After the team finishes the foundation, we can start on the framing, walls, and roof.
This can progress quickly with an experienced crew.
The urgency to shelter the structure from weather means framing occurs within a short period of time.
Structural framing is often executed by carpenters.
They work for the general contractor or are independent workers.
The chosen method depends on the cost, availability, and specific plan.
Wall and Roof Sheathing
Sheathing, followed by house wrap, shingles, and roofing papers, creates a weather-proof exterior.
This allows construction crews to continue their work without weather disruptions.
These tasks are performed by the same team that handles basic framing.
The shingles and other roofing materials are often completed by a specialist subcontractor.
Materials like OSB (Oriented Strand Board) panels help with the wall sheathing.
A fiberglass film known as house wrap can help cover them.
The Rough-In for Home Improvement
This process involves electrical, plumbing, and heating/cooling systems.
This means installing necessary pipes, wiring, and ductwork.
The walls, floors, and ceilings are still in their raw framed condition.
Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians will complete these tasks within a few days.
Inspections and approval from city inspectors are necessary before starting this project.
Insulation and Drywall Installation
These elements bring your new space to life, transitioning to a recognizable room.
This stage involves hanging drywall sheets and sanding the seams.
Workers can complete this process within a few days.
Flooring, Painting, and Cabinetry Installation
The order of these tasks depends on the availability of the contractors.
Baseboards, door trim, window trim, crown moldings, and other details occur after painting.
Finalizing Fixture Connections
Time to finalize connections for plumbing and light fixtures, wall switches, and outlets.
Delays at this stage are due to the high demand for these subcontractors.
The general contractor can have their employees complete much of the final work.
Restoring Landscaping After Home Construction
The uprooted landscape surrounding your property needs to be repaired and restored.
Earthmoving equipment may return to backfill around the foundation.
Landscaping contractors may arrive to plant trees and shrubs to restore the lawn.
Completing the Punch List
Every home construction process involves a punch list.
This records the miscellaneous items that are left for completion.
Both the contractor and homeowners compile their own lists, which become the master checklist.
A final walkthrough by the general contractor and homeowner marks the last step.
Once these tasks are done, the contractor invoices the homeowner.
Expert Advice for Successful Renovations
Crafting a home addition plan is intricate and requires attention to detail.
Every stage of the journey contributes to the final outcome.
You can ensure a seamless process by following the strategies outlined in this guide.
You can transform your property into your dream home with a well-executed plan.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for all your Design Build renovation needs.
Our team is well-equipped to guide you through this journey, so Contact us today.
Looking for home addition contractors in Mesa, AZ? Transform your property into your dream home with our expert team’s guidance. At Mariano & Co., we specialize in luxury remodeling and renovations for high-end homes. We are committed to providing each client with a 5-Star home remodeling experience. Call (480) 287-4096 or request an estimate online today!
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