know more about the best Home Extension Services
There comes a time when every homeowner desires more space without the hassle of moving into a new home. This is why home improvement solutions are increasing in demand for they offer finished living space additions or extensions without changing the existing home. However, not all home improvements are built the same, some only include an added bedroom, kitchen or bathroom.
There are several different types of Home Extension Services in Cork. They could vary between a low-cost house extension such as a basement or attic conversion or a rather expensive addition such as a full-scale conventional addition. Let’s find out which type of household extension is appropriate for a fresh new home improvement project.
Factors to Consider when Choosing a House Extension
The creation of a fresh new living space in a property that is currently owned involves careful planning and budget consideration, no matter the scale of the project. A house extension project can vary from finishing off unfinished basements and garages, or adding a completely new room or a separate living unit such as a DADU.
Even though adding a completely new space to one’s home is a significant investment, it is far more feasible than uprooting one’s family and moving to a completely new house. It can be afforded more easily than buying or building a new house from scratch.
Anyhow, the decision to make home additions should be based on the long view. It must be taken into account that the needs of tomorrow quite easily trump the needs of today as far as home extensions are concerned.
Types of House Extensions
1 . Basement or Attic Conversion
Converting the basement or attic is not traditionally called an “addition” since it does not expand the square feet area of the property. Even then it is perhaps the most cost-effective investment in terms of house extensions as it not only adds more practical space but increases the real-estate value of the project as well.
However, a basement or an attic up for conversion must structurally qualify following building conversion codes and regulations. For instance, the ceiling must be sufficiently high enough or the floor and ceiling structure must be approved by an engineer.
Basements and attics must be well-secured from moisture, and well-suited for ventilation and insulation requirements. Attics should be devoid of roof trusses and must possess egress exits if it is meant to be converted into a bedroom. The cost of converting such spaces depends on the size of the space as well as its approved structural alterations.
2 . Conventional House Extension
Conventional House extensions refer to multi-room structures which are built into the side of the house. These are either meant to be extensions or intended as an independent living units. A house extension can take many different forms depending on its purpose; for example, a family room, dining room, guest room, bathroom or study room.
Conventional additions involve the very same issue and complications of full-scale house construction, such as adherence to building codes and acquiring permits. Typically, a house extension project of this scale requires foundation work, excavation and hiring of electrical and plumbing contractors, or HVAC services.
Sometimes the features of a conventional house addition are similar to an independent living unit, hence is known as an AADU or Attached Accessory Dwelling Unit.
3 . Room Addition or Bump Out
A “Bump Out” is the addition of a single-room structure built onto the side of the house. It majorly serves a single function such as a bedroom or bathroom and is only meant to expand the size of an already existing room in the house. For example, an extra 50 square feet can be added to the kitchen space to include a new kitchen island.
Cantilevering a few extra feet into thin air is enough to convert a dining room into a suitable area for socializing with guests. Bump outs most often include building a new roofline or flat roof. Adding extra space may be cheaper than full-scale conventional additions but can still be relatively expensive and still subject to building permits, codes and inspections.
4 . Sunroom or Sun Deck
A far smaller house extension would be the sunroom. It is a supplemental living space built into the side of the house but is typically inaccessible from the main building. Sunrooms are usually made out of pre-fabricated materials such as thermal-resistant glasses and aluminium which are all assembled on-site.
It includes the use of other construction materials like concrete and lumber as such which all contribute to building a solid structure that is visually similar to the original structure.
Sunrooms are hardly built as permanent living space, bathroom or kitchen as it is not permitted by local codes. However, they can include other unconventional features such as oversized glass doors and other fenestrations which are otherwise not permitted for conventional additions. Beyond that, Sunrooms do not necessarily require air conditioning or central heating features.
5 . Converting the Garage
A single or double-vehicle garage can be converted into a functional living space area. This can be done easily by adding more flooring, higher ceilings or a solid wall. In many instances, garage spaces can be converted into an Attached Accessory Dwelling Unit or ADU with an attached bathroom and kitchen.
However, a garage conversion does imply that a separate detached garage is being built as well.
It is highly practical to build a living unit out of a garage space given that it already has a basic wall layout, a foundation, a subfloor and a roof. Windows and electricity supply are already preincluded. Then again, it might be difficult to match the aesthetics and functionality of the converted garage space with the rest of the house.
Home extensions are different from common domestic services like Chimney Repair in Cork. They require a lot more planning and consideration and should be treated in the same capacity as full-scale construction.
