I wish to add onto my house. What should I do first?

Lois Newnum
by Lois Newnum
I wish the o add on to my kitchen and enlarge my laundry room. Also we may need to add another bedroom with bathroom.

  5 answers
  • Shore grandmom Shore grandmom on Mar 27, 2018

    First you need to find out from your town what the zoning regulations and restrictions are. You will also need permits. Find out what you will need for everything. Sometimes, if adding square footage, you need blueprints. When we did a major renovation, we need to have 15 sets of blueprints, 2 that were sealed. You will also have to decide whether you are going to do the work yourself, hire a contractor or be the contractor and sub the work out.

  • Hire a designer / architect and start interviewing contractors. Some contractors are fantastic with design, others are not, so choose carefully. Have a list of your "needs" and a "wish list." Set a budget. Here are a couple fantastic sites with more info.


    https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/home-additions/


    https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-build-an-addition-1821283


    Since you kitchen will be out of commission for a period of time, set yourself up a makeshift kitchen elsewhere. I highly suggest construction during late spring, summer and early fall, so you can pull out the gas grill or bbq and cook there. I can even bake cakes on a gas grill.


    If the construction is too much for you, stay elsewhere or borrow a friend's RV and live out of that for a few weeks, or pitch a tent in the back yard.


    When construction is completed, hire a cleaning crew to deep clean the entire house from top to bottom.



  • 2dogal 2dogal on Mar 27, 2018

    Contact your county or city for zoning regulations and to pull permits. You will need to go to their office with designs/room sizes of the add-ons. Since you are asking what to do first, I would suggest that you contact a contractor who can guide you through the steps and do most of the work for you as far as scheduling and hiring subcontractors like the plumbers. Remember, if you are adding on a bedroom and bath, you will be moving load bearing outside walls and that takes special consideration.

  • Ellis Ellis on Mar 28, 2018

    This sounds like a complex project. I would seriously consider hiring an architect to draw up plans in accordance with your wishes and the local zoning codes. Be sure you hire a licensed architect, if you go that route. If you know anyone who has done extensive renovations, ask them for recommendations.


    Make sure you get estimates from a few contractors before settling on one. You'll find that each one has different ideas for how to do your job, and you'll want to consider the choices. Also, check with your local Consumer Affairs and/or Building Department for any violations committed by contractors. Check that they are fully licensed and insured to work in your town and/or county.

  • Dfm Dfm on Apr 01, 2018

    Decide what takes priority. What is the gotta get done work, and the nice if time, money, permits and the that can be done later work. You will want a contract with the outfit you hire. Specify who is supplying which materials...and who is pulling the permits to remodel. Let your insurance company know you are hiring workers to remodel areas of you house...see if the hires are coved by your insurance if a mishap occurres on you property. If the insurance co. says no..get a short term policy just in case. Let your neighbors know when the construction should start, and aproxamatly how long it’s to last. building materials either run early or later arrange to store them out of the weather. You might be able to rent a pod, if not a moving truck. Covered box of a pickup. You may not be able to stay in the house. you can rent camper units or barrow one from a friend. The plumbing may be down for a few days..another reason to rent a camper. Most places will let you keep it on site if off the street. Eating out gets expensive.....


    take head of the comments others have posted above this one.