Points To Consider For Home Additions To Avoid Hassles
You’ve already decided you need more space in your home, and home additions are a great alternative to selling and finding a bigger property.
However, while you’ve decided an addition is the answer, you should be sure about some things before the work begins in order to minimize the impact on your family. For example, will you be able to live in the home while the work is being done, or will you have to temporarily relocate your family to another living space? These are questions that a general contractor that specializes in additions should be able to answer.
In some cases, building a home addition can take weeks, so you might be in for a lot of noise and disruption – especially if you’re working from home. Modular room additions are a popular choice for many projects because they are fabricated off-site and assembled on-site, drastically cutting down on noise – not to mention mess. The cost for both can vary greatly as well, so be sure to get a written estimate up front.
Other points to consider are whether the ground area the home addition will be built on is stable and able to withstand the weight of the home extension, so it doesn’t sink or sag over time. Soil testing can determine if your property has the right conditions for an addition. You’ll also want to check with local bylaws to ensure your home addition follows minimum setbacks to neighbouring properties, and that all permits have been secured – again, with a trusted contractor on your side, you should be able to determine these details fairly quickly. This step can help you avoid any fines, or any potential hassles from nosy neighbours.
Before building additions to your home, make sure you know the exact reason for the new space you’re creating. If you know ahead of time what the use will be (e.g. a sunroom, an office, or a mudroom), then you can work with the contractor to incorporate features that make sense – otherwise you may be making modifications after the fact, which can be more expensive and time-consuming. If the addition has a bathroom or another space with running water, ensure you’ve factored in costs for additional plumbing.
Home additions can be the answer to all your needs, but it’s smart to plan ahead of time to ensure a smooth project. Partner with a home contractor that has a portfolio of home additions and can run through the options with you – modular room additions or otherwise.
