Room Additions That “Add-Up” (Or Not)

By Jeff Hunt, CGR, GMB, CAPS of Heritage Construction Services
   
Many homeowners have considered at one time or another adding onto their homes. A typical home addition might consist of a game room over the garage, second story living space, a media room or home theater, or a kitchen expansion. No matter what type of addition is contemplated, there are basic principles that are important to the success of such a project.
The overriding consideration of any room addition should be how well it blends with the architectural style and features of the existing home. Not only is this important when seeking approval from your homeowner’s association or architectural review committee, but it also means that the addition will be worth more at a future date should you decide to sell. The hallmark of a quality addition is that the new construction is undistinguishable from the original structure.

To avoid building an addition that looks “like an addition”, consider working with either a design-build remodeling firm or a third party architect or designer. The plans and specifications should be just as thorough as those used to construct a new home. To that end, the structural components of the addition such as the foundation and framing should be designed by a licensed engineer.

When designing an addition, it is critical to understand the various deed restrictions and architectural guidelines that apply in a given community. In most urban and suburban communities, there are restrictions pertaining to how close the structure can be to property lines and easements. In the case of second story additions, there may be aerial easements to consider as well. Also, there maybe FEMA-based limitations on the value of the improvements, depending upon your home’s location relative to the flood plain.

From a financial perspective, it is helpful to understand why additions are inherently more expensive to build in terms of unit cost as compared to a new home. Without the benefit of X-ray vision, it is impossible to know what will be uncovered during construction. Add to this the fact that material and labor prices will not benefit from the economy of scale in new home construction, and it is easy to see why the investment on this type of project is higher. That said, there can be many compelling reasons to undertake a room addition.

According to Remodeling Magazine’s “2005 Cost vs. Value Report”, Houston homeowners can expect to recoup between 70% and 85% of an addition’s cost at resale time. One alternative to adding on is to move to a new home; however, expenses in terms of closing costs and other moving expenses must be considered. Therefore, there are the intangibles such as neighborhood amenities, location, good neighbors and other features of your existing home that make an addition “add up” to a smart decision.

Finally, make sure the remodeling firm you choose is registered with the Texas Residential Construction Commission and carries professional designations such as the Certified Graduate Remodelor designation from the National Association of Homebuilders.

About the author – Jeff Hunt is founder and President of Heritage Construction Services, a professional design-build remodeling firm in Houston. He is designated as a Certified Graduate Remodelor (CGR), Graduate Master Builder (GMB), and Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) by the National Association of Homebuilders. He is also the Greater Houston Builders Association’s “Remodelor of the Year” for 2006.