Should You Expand With a Floor Addition?
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Are you running out of room? Have you considered attaching a second or third-floor addition to your home in Maryland?
If you live near Annapolis, Silver Spring or Severn, or frankly, anywhere, adding a second story can be of great benefit to you.
Did you know:
- Building upwards instead of outwards eliminates the need to buy more property?
- Renovations usually enhance the market value of a home?
- Additions provide extra space to growing families?
Before you move ahead with your floor addition project, make certain you take time to carefully consider specifics such as local building codes, logistics, design and cost.
It may also be advantageous to hire a certified remodeling contractor to sort through the details on your behalf.
If you need to speak with a representative immediately, give us a call right now at (410) 721-8757 or fill out our online form.
Prior to the Home Remodel...
...you MUST sort through the nuts-and-bolts, so to speak.
A floor addition requires a great deal of advanced planning, from confirming regulations to analyzing electrical wiring.
Don't do anything until you first:
- Check the codes - Become familiar with the building codes of your state or city, and confirm that your home addition plans fall within acceptable limits. You also need to acquire the correct permits before construction can commence.
- Check the foundation and framing - An inspector, architect or contractor can inspect your home's foundation, wall frames and ceiling joists for structural soundness. In some cases, a building may require significant alterations to support another floor.
- Check your connections - Keep in mind that a floor addition will need to accommodate new or upgraded plumbing, electrical and HVAC connections.
The Planning Stages
With documentation and inspection out of the way, you can enter the design stage of your home addition adventure.
- Purpose - The first, and perhaps the most important, question to ask is, "What do I want in my addition?"
You can use the space as you see fit, whether you want to include extra rooms for the kids, a guest suite or a master bedroom. You can include a game room, an entertainment center, any number of custom bathrooms, or even a private balcony.
Just be careful not to allow your home remodeling ideas to exceed your structure's capabilities.
- Materials - Secondly, determine what materials you want for each section of the addition:
- Roofing
- Windows
- Siding
- Flooring
- Doors
- Cost - The cost of a second or third-floor addition varies based on the size of the home, plan preparation, preferred features, materials and who is carrying out the project.
If you dare to do it yourself, you reduce the costs by an average of $70 to $150 per square foot, but you put yourself at significant risk of making critical mistakes.
A remodeling contractor might charge anywhere from $100 to $300 per square foot, not including the cost of inspection and blueprints. At a whopping 84%, however, a second-story addition offers one of the highest returns on investment.
Is It Worth My Money to Hire a Contractor?
Hiring a remodeler can work in your favor, eliminating the hassle that comes with erecting another floor yourself.
The biggest concern for homeowners in the midst of a second-story addition is living arrangements. A project like this requires the full removal of a roof, leaving you without adequate shelter for a brief period of time.
A contractor can remove and replace an existing roof, frame the addition and install windows within a week's time, so you won't be out of your house for long.
Doing it solo could take significantly longer.
Remodelers are also trained guides. They can assist you with permit applications, financing, architecture and design, material selection, and construction.
Cunningham Contracting Inc. is proud to offer these services, and more, to clients throughout the state of Maryland.
For 25 years, the expert team at Cunningham has completed floor addition projects for thousands of satisfied clients:
Our quality craftsmanship is ALWAYS guaranteed, timely and affordable. Take a look at our portfolio and see for yourself!
If you're ready to invest in a floor addition to your home in Baltimore, Annapolis, Silver Spring or Severn, contact one of our team members at (410) 721-8757 or fill out our online form.
We will set up a convenient time for an in-home, no-obligation consultation to determine specifications and cost.
Call us today! We're happy to help.
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