Handling a House Addition

If you find your house is shrinking around you as you add more people or have more guests, you might decide that it's time to add on to your home. It's a big decision to make, one that you might worry will upset the aesthetic of your home. If you handle it correctly, you'll be able to integrate the addition and make it look like it was part of the house all along. 

Adding a Room

A room addition is what most people think of when they consider a home addition. If you design it correctly, you can integrate the siding and roofing with the pre-existing structure, which will help your house still look cohesive with the new room. Use the extra space as a new dining room, living room, playroom, bedroom, or bathroom. 

Often, ambitious home renovators will add multiple rooms onto their home at once. You can even go all out and create a secondary living space, like an in-law apartment. The main hindrance to these renovations is price and labor; you don't want to tackle a project of this magnitude on your own, so you'll need to negotiate with contractors to create the space you want.

Expanding a Room 

If you don't want as big of a scale, you can add a few square feet onto rooms that already exist. This variation is called a bump out and is useful if you're running out of space in specific areas. Need to fit an island in your kitchen or a longer table in your dining room? Expansion is a more budget-friendly option than adding entire new rooms.

To blend a bump out into the original house, you'll want to integrate the roof as much as possible. Mimic the lines and building materials already present. You can copy them loosely or replicate details like the end wall overhang, soffit style, and the depth of the eaves. If you can't find the same siding that the rest of the house uses, look for something in a different material that complements the original to keep the house's flow.

Adding a Floor

If you don't have room to expand outward, you'll need to add vertical space to your home. For houses with basements, you have the option to avoid major construction. Instead, keep the work inside and renovate your lowest levels into more living space. A finished basement makes for a great playroom, game room, or extra bedroom.

If you don't have the basement option or still need more room, you could build another floor on top of your existing house. This method is a significant undertaking and not for the faint of heart since it requires extensive demolition and reconstruction. However, if you have the means to accomplish it, you can create as much space as you want and not take up any more land than you already do. 

The best part of an additional floor is that you won't have to worry as much about matching roofing, which can get expensive depending on the material. You should still strive to replicate or complement the existing structure, but you can redo anything, inside or outside, that doesn't fit. At this point, you're completely renovating your house, so you can make any changes you want to bring the house together.

Whether you need a custom home remodeling job or a new house built from the ground up, Genuine Home Builders, Inc., has you covered. With over 35 years of experience, we have a wealth of knowledge and practical skills to make your house exactly what you want. Contact us today, and let us help you create the home of your dreams.