GHBA Remodelers Council: Add the space you need by building up – Chron.com

By Shawn Vacek, Remodelers of Houston

A home addition can be a very valuable remodeling project for your home. If you have a one- or 1-story home and you need extra space, it may be worth considering building up rather than out.

If you have a growing family and too few bedrooms or baths, building up or out are both good options. The size and shape of your property will help you decide if you can build out. If you have a large backyard, a first-floor addition may be a good choice. If not, your choice will be to build up.

If you currently have an attic space with a higher ceiling a dormer or two or partial addition might work to get some additional room. By why stop there? A full second-story addition can double the space that you currently have, to give you extra bedrooms and baths, a luxurious master bedroom suite with walk in closet or any other spaces you desire.

If you are considering adding more space to your home, keep the following in mind.

Your homes foundation

Your contractor with the help of an engineer should determine if your home can support a second story or if you need additional structural support. Most existing foundations can be reinforced to support a second floor pending an engineer evaluation. This can be much more economical than pouring a new foundation. Overall, reinforcing the foundation and building up will add value to your home.

Staircase

Do you have a staircase? If not, it will be necessary to build a new one. One of the more difficult elements is determining the best placement for the staircase. Much thought needs to go into the staircase location based on design for accessibility, flow and balance in the home.

Additional key elements to consider when adding a second story are window style, roofing material and elevation, and exterior facade to create a look that you desire.

Design

Second-floor design work is challenging, so you want to be certain that youre working with someone who has Design-Build experience in second-story additions. A good Design-Build remodeler can take care of drawing up the plans based on understanding what you want the second-story add-on to achieve.

When adding on new space to your home, your remodeler should create a space that flows seamlessly with the homes existing architecture and style. Look for and experienced remodeler that you can trust to get the job done right.

This article was provided by a member of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association. The Remodelers Council is dedicated to promoting professionalism and public awareness of the remodeling profession through education, certification and service to the Houston community. To reach the author directly, email shawn@remodelersofhouston.com. For information on this article, please contact Lorraine Hart at lorraine@idealconsulting.net. To join the council or to find a professional remodeler in your area, please visit http://www.ghba.org.

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GHBA Remodelers Council: Add the space you need by building up - Chron.com