Additions
As home addition contractors, we are often asked, are home additions worth it? The answer is almost always yes, whether you are planning to live in your home, or to put it on the market for sale. Let us help you explore the value that house additions can bring.
Extending your home, adding a second story, bump out, garage or sunroom allows your family the luxury of staying in your current location, avoid the costs of moving, and the unknowns of a new home, while enjoying the extra space the addition brings.
If you’re looking for additional space to entertain or unwind, adding a sunroom, or expanding your kitchen and dining room or family room might enhance your quality of life at home.
If you’re planning to work from home, or to support your side hobby, a home office addition, studio or workshop can create that private, dedicated space to do your thing!
Planning to sell your home and want to increase its value? You’re not alone in considering home additions. Typically, the best return on your investment will be adding features to your home that buyers are commonly seeking, including:
A large master bedroom with ensuite or walk-in closet
A spacious, modern and functional kitchen with lots of storage
Extra bathroom
4 Season Sunroom
Building a Garage (Attached or Detached)
Adding a second floor can potentially add significant resale value to your home, by adding substantial square footage and extra rooms. Building on top of your existing home is a great option when you don’t have the space to build laterally, or if you prefer not to encroach on your existing outdoor space.
Second story additions typically are built to add additional bedrooms or bathrooms, but the additional space can also be used for offices, playrooms or living space.
Before adding a second story to a bungalow, your existing home structure will need to be assessed to ensure the house and its foundation can support the weight of a second floor addition.
When your property has space, a lateral extension or rear house addition will increase the footprint of your main floor, supplementing your living area to suit your family’s needs. Typical home extensions include creating more common living space, expanding kitchen and/or dining space, extending the master suite, in-law suite additions, adding a room or expanding a bathroom.
Similarly, bump-out-extensions are often added to extend space and add functionality to the home, but on a smaller scale. These micro-additions sometimes only add a few square feet, but create space for things like a walk-in closet, added space for a full bathroom or allow for more counter space. They tend to cost less per square foot as they don't usually require foundation or roofing work.
Sunroom, or solarium additions are a popular choice because they allow you the benefits of being outdoors such as sunshine, fresh air and a view - while protecting you from the drawbacks of being outdoors, such as insects or inclement weather. They are also a great place to grow plants, entertain guests, read books, sip a coffee or enjoy a meal.
Three season sunrooms are also a popular choice, as an economical option to the year-round sunroom. They can typically be enjoyed in a Canadian spring, summer and fall.
Garage Additions can serve numerous purposes beyond just being a place to park the car.
Garages can be used for a workshop - and a place where all your tools and equipment are accessible, but can also serve as a studio workspace for artists, musicians or more. Some people even use garages to increase their living space, adding a loft bedroom, tv room or play room.
An attached garage is convenient when used for parking cars, allowing easy access to the house, plus one wall will already be built! People with pre-existing garages can opt for a garage extension, providing additional space, building outwards from a previously existing structure.
Detached garages or workshops might make more sense depending on your property layout, and whether its intended use might result in loud noises or strong odors that could affect those inside the house.
We are frequently asked: “How much do house additions cost?” The answer can really vary depending on the type of addition, square footage, materials, style and finishes. We can give you some guidelines based on our experience:
Second Story Addition Cost - $300 - $450 per square foot depending on the condition of your existing structure and desired finishes
Home Extension Cost - $300 - $450 per square foot depending if you are building on piles or foundation, and the finishing you desire
Sunroom or Solarium Cost - $250 - 450 per square foot depending whether it will be livable year-round and other finishing decisions
Garage Addition Cost - $200 and $400 per square foot depending whether attached, detached and the way you’d like it finished
Bump-out Cost – varies depending which part of the house is being bumped out
Other Costs include building permits, inspectors, engineers and architects, which can add an additional 10-20% of your project’s total cost
We welcome you to call us for a customized quote for your particular project and what options are available within a specified budget.
Schedule a meeting to review the general scope of your house addition plans, your budget, and your preferred styles & finishes
We will prepare you with a customized quote for the proposed work (1-2 weeks)
Project planning including building, timelines, securing deposits, ordering materials and requesting building permits (1-4 months)
Site Preparation and Construction (4-6 months)
Starting construction is exciting for both homeowners and our team of professional home addition contractors, as the dreaming, planning and preparation starts to become a reality.
Typical Steps Building a Home Addition:
Site preparation: property prep, excavation, foundation
Rough framing, roofing, windows, mechanical, electrical, plumbing
Insulation, drywall, trim, painting
Flooring, cabinets, finishing
Final walk-through
Your questions, feedback, and input are welcome throughout the construction process. We will provide ensure any of your questions are answered quickly and that your project will follow its planned schedule.
Rest assured, your project site will be kept tidy, secure and safe.
Visit our FAQ’s for answers to other frequently asked questions.
