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Room additions add more to your existing living space than just one extra room. They provide an opportunity to reconfigure existing rooms, a chance to fix any problem areas and improve the flow.
Obviously you want your room addition and remodeling to be successful and to run smoothly. To that end it's optimal to prepare for your project by coming up with a plan. With a clear plan in place you can keep tabs on the progress of the project and diagnose any potential difficulties.
On the other hand, if you do not have a construction plan your room remodel could drag on, you could pay more for costly mistakes and you may run into hitches with your inspections.
There is a logical sequence of construction steps for an average room addition. Your sequence and remodeling plan my vary from the plan outlined below, but it does provide a helpful outline that will enable you to envision your remodeling process and the individual steps. |
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1) Check Local Building Codes |
Contacting your local building department will let you know if a home addition is possible on your lot and if there are any restrictions on its size. Not checking with the building department first could result in expensive surprises or unpleasant disappointments. |
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2) Make Your Own Drawings and Proposals |
Make a floor plan drawing of your existing layout and possible new layouts. This process will help you to determine the features that are most important to you. If you already have blueprints of your current layout you can trace the floor plan and then make revisions on your new drawing. Each story that will be part of your addition should be its own drawing.
Elevation drawings show the side view of a room or exterior of a home. These perspectives will be helpful in determining where to place doors and windows. The process will also help you learn what electrical and mechanical work will be needed in your room addition. |
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3) Have a Professional Drawn Up Your Plans |
There are complex aspects to a room addition that a design professional will be up to speed on. Once you have a good idea of what you want it is wise to include a professional in planning the addition and remodel. |
| Knowing what you would like ahead of time saves you money as the services of a professional designer or architect will only add to your room addition costs. Their services are warranted and required in a major addition project. |
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4) Hire Contractors |
General contractors can be hired to manage the entire addition and all aspects of the remodeling project. Many who aren't very knowledgeable about construction go this route and save themselves the headache of managing the project themselves. Others, with a little more know-how, hire the subcontractors and look after the entire project.
Which ever you choose it is import to have clear and open communication with your contractors to keep your project on time and without major hold ups. Before you hire remodeling contractors it is advisable to get three or four quotes on the exact same job specifications. Then you can compare the estimates. It is not judicious to hire a contractor on price alone. A homeowner should ask for and check references for contractors giving addition prices. Ask the contractors for their current licenses (if required) and insurance certificates and check these contractors out with local consumer protection agencies.
Get it in writing. Make sure that the you have a contract in writing with your remodeling contractors that include start and completion dates. |
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5) Get Your Permits and Schedule Inspections |
Take your final plans to be reviewed by a building inspector and get all needed permits for your home addition and remodeling work. Sometimes revisions or adjustments have to be made to plans before you can get your permits approved.
Find out the points at which you will need certain work inspected and when you should call for inspections. This will prevent the need to rip out drywall in order to have plumbing inspected or undesired delays to your project. |
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6) Framing and Mechanical Changes |
Remodeling existing rooms generally begins with any major mechanical or structural changes - taking down walls moving vents or service lines. For additions, once the foundation is constructed and the framing is done new duct work, under-floor drains and new plumbing should be installed. Windows and doors should be installed in their new rough openings. |
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Sit down with each trade and discuss their specific needs and timeline. This will help you to better orchestrate trades that may need to wait for other work to be done.
Set a realistic timeline that trades will be able to work within. Adjust the schedule as needed and call trades that will be affected. |
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7) Rough-Ins |
Run new plumbing and gas lines and have the electrical work done. Have this work inspected before you drywall and close up the walls. |
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8) Ceilings and Walls |
Once your work has passed inspection you can go ahead and have the exterior walls and the ceilings insulated. The drywall crew can then close in the ceilings and walls. The ceilings should be done first and then the walls. The next crew is the plastering contractors, followed by the painters and wallpapers. |
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9) Finishing Work |
Now all of the finishing work can be done. Including, cabinets, counters and backsplashes, trim and moldings, doors and floor coverings, light fixtures, faucets and appliances. Finally, have a final inspection done by a local building inspector. |
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