FACTORS THAT ADD TO THE COST OF YOUR ADDITION
The cost for your addition may surprise you.
Hands down, when you need to more living space to improve your life style, the option to add a room typically beats the cost of selling your existing home and then purchasing a new one.
What you may not realize that even though you are only adding a 100 square foot sitting area, you may have to update other parts of your home.
Budgeting for Your Addition – Changes You Might Have to Make That Are Not Part of the Addition
Depending on the age of your home, you can count on any room addition having to meet the current adopted building codes. This includes, but is not limited to changes in the electrical code including new smoke alarm systems, updated hurricane protection and bracing, and meeting the International Energy Conservation Code with insulation, Window U-Values, and the efficiency rating of your plumbing and mechanical equipment.
Yes, it may surprise you that you have to upgrade your smoke detectors for all of your bedrooms, even though you are adding a family on the opposite end of your home.
Minimum Charges Add to Costs
You may not realize, but there other fixed costs that make the price of the addition seem higher than new construction.
There are structural engineering fees, permitting fees, possible county impact fees, and subcontractor minimums for your addition. For example, concrete finishing will cost $450 whether the slab is 100 square feet or 1000 square feet because the finishers have a minimum charge. That’s $4.50 a square foot vs. 45 cents a square foot. Minimums like this exist for most trades.
True Story
A potential client wanted to add a 100 square foot sitting room to his home. The calculated cost for the addition was almost $400 a square foot. Ouch! I told him I wouldn’t recommend doing the addition. The subcontractor minimums and the cost for upgrading the home to meet current code made the cost prohibitive for little return on his investment.
Adding a small amount of space doesn’t mean less cost!
Before you think about adding onto your home, seek out professional advice from a professional home remodeling contractor like
Leading Edge Homes, Inc.
If you, or someone you know, are planning on an addition, please call me at 561-795-2551 and I will be happy to discuss your needs and identify for you the important considerations and requirements that may impact your overall room addition costs.
For all of your home remodeling and inspection needs, contact your local certified “roomologist”, Leading Edge Homes. Inc. at 561-795-2551.
Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.
If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.
