Home Remodeling & Construction Blog

Creating a seamless living space requires careful planning and an expert eye. Virginia additions should complement your existing home, not stick out like a sore thumb. But details like paint, flooring, exterior finishes and lighting present challenges to many homeowners looking to blend their new living area with existing space. Check out these tips and consider how you can make it all happen.

Tip # 1 – Keep Good Records

Did you keep the paint can from your last redecorating project? Do you have a record of the flooring brand and lot installed in your home? Can you find the receipt or packing list for light fixtures and other features currently illuminating your space? Although it may be too late to take advantage of this practice, remember to do so for the next renovation.

Check out your personal household records and see what you can find on the paint, flooring and fixtures. This information allows you to carefully match the same features in your home addition. Visit a local paint retailer to obtain a color match and talk to flooring and lighting stores about sourcing out similar products.

Tip # 2 – Go For Contrast

Sometimes matching the existing décor is nearly impossible. Why not aim for contrast instead? This provides a more realistic target and creates a fair amount of design freedom for your contractor.

You’ll still need to do some legwork and shop for complementary products, but eliminating the need to match opens your project up to various possibilities. Consider installing a lighter hardwood flooring in contrast to the dark stain on your existing space. Or opt for contrasting colors on the walls, while incorporating the existing wall tone into décor accessories and furniture.

Stick with the same theme or style for a cohesive feel, unless you’re aiming for an eclectic look.

Tip # 3 – Consider What’s Behind the Walls

Some Virginia additions place a major load on the existing electrical and plumbing systems. Ask your Virginia contractor to assess the current state and find out whether you’ll need to upgrade wiring, drains or any other mechanical element in your home.

This type of work eats into the home addition budget, but also creates a safe and comfortable living area for today and into the future. Find out about local building codes as well, and be sure your contractor schedules all relevant inspections and applies for permits. Overhauls and upgrades provide the wisest course of action when your new addition puts a strain on existing systems. Patches and mismatched systems only result in hassles.

Tip # 4 – Price Out Replacements

Assess the condition of your existing walls, flooring and lighting. Is it time to redecorate or update the look and finish of your home? Home addition projects offer an opportunity to spruce up the balance of your living space, as long as time and budget allow.

Talk to your contractor about pricing for replacements in the existing space. Consider DIY or stretching out the project. But remember that this investment in your home will create valuable returns for your lifestyle and property value.

Whether you opt to match, contrast or redecorate the existing living space features, Virginia additions transform your home in a good way.

Building a home addition in Northern Virginia increased your living space, enhances property value and allows you to customize or alter the existing floor plan. But many homeowners wonder how much to budget and need an accurate way to calculate the cost of Northern Virginia additionsNorthe. With a few general questions, some idea about design and sizes and a trusty calculator, we can guide you through the process to come up with a rough number.

Understanding the Additional Costs of Additions

New construction avoids several steps, including demolition and retrofitting. These steps drive the cost of home additions higher. Most contractors agree that the construction costs of house additions can be anywhere from 25 to 50 percent higher than new construction costs.

Architect fees should be included in any construction budget, and the services of this professional help to overcome many of the obstacles common to home additions. Blending rooflines, structural walls, landscaping and elevations requires skill and an eye for the overall design. Architects fit the bill perfectly. Expect their fees to reach between 5 to 15 percent of the total construction budget.

Although it is difficult to narrow down the cost of a typical home addition in Northern Virginia, expect to pay between $80 and $150 per square foot for basic construction. Remember that several key elements influence this price range.

Electrical and Plumbing

The cost of simple Northern Virginia additions, living rooms and bedrooms for example, is significantly lower than the construction cost of a kitchen or bathroom addition. Electrical and plumbing drive up estimates, depending on your tastes and the work required to install these elements.

Choose the following items for your home addition, and add the cost of each to the estimated square footage price above:

• Bath or Shower (or both)
• Toilet
• Sink
• Faucets and Taps
• Lighting
• Exhaust Fans
• Heating Lamps or Radiant Underfloor Heating

High end bathroom fixtures, taps, lighting and heating design add to the construction cost, which is often calculated based on standard fixtures.
Difficult or complicated circumstances require more labor for installation, increasing the project cost. Will your contractor need to rewire the existing electrical system to accommodate your home addition? Or will the plumbing design need to be reworked to maintain flow and proper drainage? An experienced builder can easily handle these situations, but the added time increases your cost.

The Value of a Written Estimate

Whatever the size of your home addition, and whichever electrical and plumbing fixtures chosen, be sure to obtain a written estimate before the project begins. This quote should outline the work in as much detail as possible, including:

• Specifications of the project, such as size and location
• Details of materials, including brand names and product numbers where applicable
• Approximate scheduling
• Labor included
• Warranty
• Payment details, such as deposit and draw details

It helps to discuss the project details with your contractor, but with some discussion and a few key decisions, you should be able to calculate the cost of Northern Virginia additions. Use this figure to create a rough budget and arrange for financing. The numbers may change as your project takes shape, but this basic calculation is a wise first step.

A cramped family home, a shift in living arrangements or dreams of an altered space bring Northern Virginia additions to the table. But how do you know whether or not to build an addition? Would it be easier or less expensive to move or build a new house? Several factors dictate your final decision, but these tips will help you to discover whether a home addition makes sense for your family.

Think About Why You Want More Space

Start with the need versus want debate–does your family require more space to live, due to a new birth or another family member moving in? Or perhaps the existing space needs to be revamped to take advantage of modern design and structure. Decide if you truly require or desire more space.

Once that distinction has been narrowed down, think about the whys:

• Why do you need/want more space?
• Why does now seem like the right time?
• Why do you want to stay in your current home (as opposed to moving)? What benefits does your current home deliver?

Identifying why you need more space helps to define your goals and allows for a more detailed design, once that process begins.

Think About the Future

Timing is everything. Installing a home addition now will affect your property value, as well as your lifestyle and habits. Understanding your future plans allows you to decide whether or not a home addition adds value for the long term, something most homeowners look for with home improvement investments.

You’ve looked at the why’s, now think about the when’s:

• When do you plan on moving from your existing home? Consider the empty-nest stage, career plans, retirement and any other lifestyle changes that triggers thoughts of moving.
• When will you have the funds to finance a home addition? If you need to add to the mortgage, how much time will be added to your amortization?
• When can you expect the project to be completed? And how does that schedule affect your vision of the future?

Northern Virginia additions take time to construct, and embarking on a project of this scale requires commitment. If you’re planning on selling your home in the next five years, the hassle and expense of a home addition are not worthwhile. Long term plans to stay in your home? Additions provide many advantages now and well into the future.

Think About the Budget

Now is the time to consider how much. Will the investment required to build a home addition pay you back in an enhanced lifestyle, increased comfort and improved property value? If not, why bother? Renovations or moving may make more sense.

Consider the how’s at this stage:

• How much is your home currently worth? And how much will it be worth with the addition complete?
• How much are houses selling for in your area? Are prices rising or falling?
• How much work can you handle yourself? DIY can save money, but only when done correctly.

Decide whether or not your investment will deliver a return, both financially and emotionally. Take a look at current value, market conditions and ways to save money on the project without sacrificing on quality.

Bring all three of these factors together. The wisdom of Northern Virginia additions becomes clear when you consider the why’s, when’s and how’s with honesty and care.

Homeowners have all sorts of questions when planning Virginia additions, from scheduling to costs, design to finishing and dealing with the local building department. These important questions must be discussed during the planning stages in order to ensure a smoother project.

photo credit flickr/Orbital Joe

# 1 – How Long Does It Take to Build a Home Addition?

This can be difficult to answer, as each project presents unique challenges. Size and location of the addition matter, as a second-storey addition may be completed quicker than a main floor addition that requires an expansion of the foundation or extensive excavation.

In general, a single storey addition measuring around 300 to 320 square feet will take around six weeks to build. Weather conditions affect this schedule, but most Virginia additions of this size require about three weeks of work on the exterior and three weeks of work on the interior portions.

# 2 – Are Estimate Costs Fixed?

The very nature of an estimate allows for costs to change as the project changes. Your Virginia contractor will give you an outline of the project, including details such as size, construction specs, finishing choices and product codes. If these details change over the course of your home improvement, costs may change as a result.

On the other hand, good contractors will stick as closely as possible to the estimate. They will discuss any and all changes before going ahead, which allows you to maintain control of the budget.

# 3 – Will Our Home Addition Fit Into the Balance of Our House?

Good design ensures that a home addition fits seamlessly into your existing floor plan. Take the time to discuss important aspects of your home with the contractor, including traffic patterns, cleaning patterns and how much time your family spends in each room. An architect or contractor takes all of these things into account and designs an addition that suits your lifestyle, as well as the house.

# 4 – Who Takes Care of the Building Permit?

All Virginia home additions require a building permit, but do not be intimidated by the thought. Your contractor should take care of most aspects, ensuring your permit application goes smoothly through the municipal and state systems.

There may be zoning issues to deal with, as well as legal or architectural aspects that involve neighborhood associations, historical societies or other organizations. Homeowners can deal with these people directly or authorize their contractor to handle interactions, but it helps to stay involved and keep on top of things.

# 5 – Does Our Family Need to Move Out During the Construction Phase?

This can also be difficult to answer, since every project and every family have different needs. Depending on the projected length of construction, location of the addition and seasonal weather patterns, you may feel more comfortable relocating for a short period of time. However, many times your family can live happily and safely in the home during construction.

Always be prepared to listen to instructions from the contractor and allow the experts to do their job. They will work hard to provide a safe home for your family. Talk to your insurance company about living arrangements during a home addition; you may find out that you’re covered for alternative housing during this project.

Virginia additions are involved and extensive, and many questions go through your head during the planning phases. Talk to your contractor and have all of your questions and concerns addressed before work starts to ensure your home addition runs smoothly and ends in complete satisfaction.