If there’s one thing the last few months have taught us, it’s that it’s so important to love the space that you’re in. With so many of us being confined to our homes, you may have realized that you need more space. This could be for a growing family, for a separate workspace now that your company has gone virtual, or you just really want that second bathroom. Whatever your reason, there are a number of different options when it comes to adding space to your home.
Bump-Out Additions
Bump-out additions are small spaces that are added onto an existing room. For example, you could add an eating area onto your existing kitchen or expand a bathroom in order to add a tub to the space. These are cost-effective ways to add space to your home’s living or sleeping spaces because they typically do not require you to carry out any foundation or roof work, which can save you around 15% compared to a typical addition, and even more if you tuck it under the existing roof. Overall investments start at around $5,000, and kitchen bump-outs can increase to $30,000 depending on what you decide to do with the space.
Bathroom Additions
Adding a bathroom is one of the most obvious ways to add space and value to your home by converting square footage from master bedrooms or walk-in closets. It’s important to think about the placement of the bathroom as it will be more cost-effective to tie fixtures into pre-existing plumbing systems, such as installing a bathroom on the other side of an existing bathroom wall. The price of a brand new bathroom installation can range from $25,000 to $75,000 depending on placement, fixtures, and plumbing, so it’s really important to work with a construction/plumbing team that will give you all the information upfront. The good news is that new bathrooms almost always add significant value to your home with the average bathroom adding around $23,000 – approximately 50% of your investment.
Sunroom Additions
A sunroom is a structure that is typically enclosed in glass with screened openings so you can open and close the space to the outside world with ease. You can choose to have a three-season sunroom, which uses lighter materials and provides shade during the summer, or you can choose a 4-season sunroom which tends to be more heavy-duty using materials like insulation and double-paned glass. Investments can range from $8,000 to $80,000, but it’s important to note that the cost will likely depend on whether you’re living in a mild or extreme climate, as more extreme weather systems require sturdier materials.
Garage Conversions
Garage conversions can be a little trickier than your standard additions. Given that you are turning a storage area into a habitable space, legal and zoning issues will need to be addressed as many building codes will require that professionals use permits for work such as moving walls, running a water supply, or installing electrics. One of the advantages of this type of conversion is that you won’t have to lay any new foundation and you may want to keep existing walls, which would save you some money. You can expect to pay anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000, depending on the size of the conversion and what systems already exist.
If you have any questions about any of the above or are thinking about extending your home, contact our team to discuss your options!