Home renovations that involve room additions are beneficial in many ways. Besides providing more living space, room additions increase property value and allow homeowners to design their dream homes. However, you should only consider home renovations if you are happy with your neighborhood. If you’ve decided to remodeling your home to add more rooms, you have two options to choose from: building up or building out.
Most homeowners have one question that underscores their decision; is it more expensive to build up or out? However, deciding whether to build out or build up goes beyond the cost factor. Below are a few things that can guide your decision of building up or out.
Which Rooms Do You Need?
Before you determine the budget and design of room additions, you should know the type of rooms your house needs. Identifying the purpose of the new rooms will guide you in deciding whether you should build up or out.
Ideally, you should build out if you need a sunroom, living room, guest suite, kitchen expansion, laundry room, or garage. On the other hand, you should consider building up if you need a hobby or crafting room, master suite, laundry room next to your bedrooms, private gathering room, private office, or exercise room close to the master bedroom. Some homeowners also build up for an over-garage room addition.
Your Home’s Existing Layout
Deciding whether you should build up or out also heavily depends on the size and construction design of your home’s existing layout. Before making a rear addition, you should also consider the available backyard space and your future plans. While a sizeable yard might accommodate your planned room addition, it may not have enough space for a future above-ground or in-ground pool, garden area, greenhouse, or any other outdoor installation, such as a fire pit or outdoor kitchen.
If you have planned more constructions for your backyard, you should consider building up or at the front. Side room additions are best for cottage homes with large yards. Building to the sides is a good option for adding bedrooms, kitchens, in-law suites, bathrooms, and a garage.
Building Out or Up: What Each Option Involves
If you want to add square footage, you can expand the ground floor plan or add a second or third story. However, you should understand what vertical and horizontal room additions involve.
1. Building Up
Building up or vertical addition is an excellent option for homeowners with limited backyard space. Building up typically requires that you remove part or all of the roof. However, you’ll have to seek alternative accommodation in a hotel or from family members. Apart from exposure, temperature regulations become impossible if your house has no roof. Utilities, such as the water supply, are also switched off during renovation.
If your home was initially a single story, building up involves the addition of a staircase, which occupies part of the ground floor. This reduces the initial square footage of your home. However, you can maintain indoor square footage by constructing the staircase next to the front door.
Building up is potentially less costly, adds square footage, and provides several expansion options. However, it might necessitate temporary relocation as the contractor tears through the walls and ceilings.
2. Building Out
Horizontal home renovations reduce the available backyard space. It is an excellent option for homeowners who have large gardens or don’t use their outdoors much. Horizontal room additions are less disruptive because construction is done outside the main house. However, unlike vertical additions, contractors start by laying a foundation, which increases the cost of the renovation project.
Zoning Laws
You should also consider the zoning laws before making either of these renovations. Zoning laws provided by relevant authorities guide home renovation projects. Similarly, you should check Homeowners Association laws, which provide the standards for making renovations within the neighborhood.
Conclusion
The decision on whether to build up or out should be based on the property size, neighborhood zoning and HOA laws, homeowner needs, and available budget. Regardless of your preference, the most important element of undertaking this project is ensuring that you hire the best remodeling contractors. Hiring experienced contractors can make your dream home a reality.