Remodeling: Additions

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Nationally speaking, the most common house additions are master suites and extended living rooms but, locally, remodelers report a broader range of popular add-ons, including kitchen sitting rooms, screened porches, sunrooms, bathrooms, and game rooms. This squares with reports from the 2009 International Building Show that revealed a trend toward nesting and “community,” leading to alterations centered on gathering spaces in the home. If you’re considering adding on, think on these questions:

Does it have to look old?

While our Lowcountry sources agree that a continuity between old and new structures is important, they were split on whether it’s okay for additions to look like an add-on. Some say that’s an absolute no-no, others insist it adds character. Sounds like a matter of taste to us. Just keep in mind that scale, mass, and fenestration (design of windows and doors) should be compatible. Beware that in downtown Charleston, the BAR requires additions not look like their historic counterparts. There must be some type of defining hyphen to distinguish old from new.

How can I add on without blowing my budget?

There are ways to keep your addition budget reasonable. Enclose a porch, which serves the same role as adding a room but skips the expense of pouring a new foundation or adding to your roof. Also, depending on the type of addition you need, you might consider modular options. Built off-site and then joined to the house, these can trim as much as 20 percent off your addition costs.

What is the biggest mistake homeowners make?

Not consulting a design professional before building. There are always structural and aesthetic issues to resolve long before building a new structure. Also, be sure and take a survey plat of your home and property to the city zoning office to confirm there is room on your lot for an addition.

Stay Put

Three additions to improve your quality of life

1. Master Bedroom Suite

2. Expanded Living Room

3. Sunroom/Porch

From the Experts

“Consider playing upon Bernoulli’s principle, which creates wind and increased ventilation according to the relationship of nearby buildings. We’re currently working on a remodel where we’re ripping out three or four previous additions to create an exterior living space between the main house and guest house using that principle.” —Jane Frederick, Frederick + Frederick Architects