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By: Tim Clark
With the current housing market in turmoil, many people are
deciding not to sell. What's the answer then, if you've got
an expanding family or you simply need more room? If you can't
afford a vacation home, you might think about expanding your
current one.
A Home Addition can sound really scary. Adding on to your
home doesn't always mean ripping off your roof and adding
a whole 2nd floor. A home addition company might simply add
on a garage, a back porch, or an extra bathroom which could
really make a difference in your living situation.
Here are some useful tips, just in case you're planning to
hire a home addition contractor, to make sure every goes right:
Home Additions - Inspect It
If you're going to make even minor wall changes to your house,
please (please, please!) bring in a structural engineer. Anytime
you're going to knock out a wall, it could affect the integrity
of the building. A general contractor may not completely understand
the engineering of every home structure and could give bad
advice. It may sound "expensive" to hire a structural
engineer, but imagine how more you'd spend if a side of your
home fell off...
Get your permits. Nothing is more obvious than a home addition,
no matter how small or insignificant. Even if you get away
with doing the work without a permit, a homeowner is going
to notice part of the house is new. Don't get caught having
to pay fines, penalties, and maybe even pay to have the work
removed and re-done after an inspection.
Home Additions - Plan It
If you're adding to your home, by expanding out or up, it's
important to also talk with an architect or designer. Why?
Because you really don't want your add-on to look like it
was added on. You want it to blend seamlessly into your neighborhood
background. Are all the homes around your's single-story,
two-bedroom bungalows? If you plop a 2nd floor on, with dormers,
and cozy third floor attic, it could look out of place. That's
fine if you're going to stay in the home forever, but you
could have a problem selling the eyesore down the road. To
make sure your addition works, talk with a designer who can
help give you what you want without sacrificing the look and
value of the house.
Also, homes were built in specific areas of the country in
specific eras. Many times, an architect or inspector will
be able to review your home plans and your original blueprints
to determine if your house can support the extra weight of
a 2nd floor. The structure of your house might not be capable
to handling an addition -- homes originally built with 2nd
floors have different framing, so you want to make sure your
home can handle it.
Your current heating and cooling ducts and unit are set up
for the current number of rooms in your home. Adding even
a sunroom or extra bathroom could throw things off. Consult
an HVAC company to inspect your air flow requirements with
an addition room or floor.
Make sure your designer takes in all aspects of the other
homes in your neighborhood: doors, windows, paint, siding,
roofs, and elevation. These should all work with the architecture
of the home and the surrounding area.
Home Additions - Build It
Prepare for the major disruption of having workers, equipment,
and materials (as well as dust, debris, and possible damage)
that will be invading your house. On a floor addition, you'll
have to relocate to other living quarters, but you might be
able to work around a bedroom addition or having your kitchen
expanded.
Take plenty of pictures and monitor the work. Keep track
of all the details in case there are problems or disputes
down the road (and, also, to remember the experience.)
About The Author
Timothy Clark is the Marketing Director for http://www.constructiondeal.com/showJobCategory.pub?categoryId=11&rid=19
- a handy & Free online resource for matching Contractors
to Homeowners who have building, remodeling, or home repair
projects.
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