When the homestead begins to get too small for either kids or possessions, or both, then homeowners begin the search for more space. Many just give up their present home and buy a larger one. Lucky ones find the exact match in their own neighborhood but many have to look elsewhere for a bigger home. This entails packing up and moving, leaving neighbors, schools and other activities in the area. In many cases the new home is farther away from amenities and, with the price of fuel escalating, puts an extra burden on the budget.

Adding On

Many other homeowners add space by adding it to their existing dwelling. This can include everything from filling in a porch or a deck and making it into an interior space to building onto the side of the home and joining the two. Whatever the method it takes a lot of time and money to do a room addition so the homeowner should must have a clear plan before calling a contractor.

1. Basement Thinking

The easiest way to add space is in an unfinished basement. As the infrastructure is already in place there is no need to put in plumbing, HVAC and electrical other than adding on to the existing system. If the basement is below grade then a pumping system would be needed but they start at around $1500.

Insulated basements should have the walls checked before continuing on with building rooms as there may be cracks in the foundation and/or mold to work about. Cracks should be sealed by a professional before continuing as these may cause concern later on.

2. Garages

Another space where most of the infrastructure is in place is the garage. Attached garages are already insulated, are sometimes as big as 300 square feet and there may be space above where an attic loft could be built. The only downside to using a garage is that the majority of home buyers want a garage more than the larger space and this may dissuade potential buyers later on if the home is put up for sale.

3. Porches and Decks

Making space from existing structures saves both time and money because in many cases there is a usable support structure like cemented, reinforced columns or footings. As well there are joists so, in many cases, it does not take a lot to frame in a room and this can be done in stages because the mess is all outside.

The only structural consideration is the roof line and this may require putting on a new roof for the home to maintain continuity. If plumbing is to be run to this space then there are other considerations such as the sewer hookup and proximity to the hot water supply.. If you live in northern areas there has to be some type of insulation for the pipes.

4. New Addition

Adding on to the home by pushing into the yard can be done but only if there is enough space on the lot without encroaching onto the neighbor's property. The building permit office will check this out but it's better not to waste time and money on plans until you are completely sure. If you do not have a recent survey then this is a good investment. In addition the power, sewer, gas and other underground transmission utilities should be mapped out first to see if it is feasible. These cannot be move cheaply.

Building the addition is more like building a small home than renovating. There has to be a foundation to build on and maybe a basement area. Basements are very expensive but they do provide an avenue for utility placement and, basically, your new space doubles in size. In addition, The old part and the new part have to line up properly from roof level down to the floor so this has to be worked into the foundation plans.

5. Going Up

Unless the roof has a large attic the most expensive way to add space is to go up. This is because, in most cases, the roof structure has to be taken off before the new addition can be built. In addition to the cost, the residents would have to move out for the duration because of health and safety reasons and the large mess created by the remodel. Before the plans can be drawn up the covenants would have to be checked to see if this would be allowed for the neighborhood. Then the home would have to be inspected by an engineer to see if the walls and foundation could take the addition. All these options for adding space are subject to permits and it is best to get a contractor to sort out the details.