Expanding your living space with thoughtful home additions can bring lasting value, though it requires careful planning, budgeting, and patience. When done well, an addition can increase the functionality, value, and comfort of the home. Yet, not all home additions are considered worthwhile. While some can be used to strategically increase property value, accommodate a growing family, or start a home business, others fail to be worth the cost.
We’ve compiled the top five most popular types of home additions, including the benefits and costs that homeowners can expect from them. Our goal is to help homeowners make more informed decisions about their homes and budget to choose the options that best suit their situation.
1. Room Additions
Room additions are the most common types of home additions. Also called “bump-outs,” these projects involve expanding an existing room, commonly to add more guest space or a larger kitchen. For example, by bumping out an existing kitchen, homeowners can add an attractive breakfast nook, walk-in pantry, or workspace. These additions can add a lot of value to a home as homebuyers look for roomy, multi-functional spaces.
The costs of a room addition, other than the construction cost, usually involve expansions to existing home systems such as a plumbing hookup, new electrical systems, or an HVAC expansion.
2. Full Room Construction
Building an entirely new room is an even bigger undertaking, but it remains a popular home addition. New room constructions often involve a new bedroom, bathroom, office space, or family room. As a new construction, the rooms require a full building cycle, including foundational work, roofing, insulation, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, flooring, and more.
The results can dramatically improve the functionality and value of the home, such as by turning a normal bedroom into a master suite by adding a luxury, en-suite bathroom, expanding the living room, or adding a guest bedroom.
However, the costs of full-room constructions quickly escalate when multiple system expansions or high-end materials are involved. Cost control will rely on making smart material choices and prioritizing the custom features that matter most to the vision of the homeowner.
3. Sunrooms and Porches
Sunrooms and porches are also popular home additions. They are enclosed spaces, typically on the front or rear of the home, that provide distinct benefits, such as allowing homeowners to enjoy natural sun without going outside. They can quickly become relaxing hobby rooms and appealing spaces, especially during more temperate times of year.
Compared to full room constructions, porches tend to cost less. They are sometimes called “three-season rooms” because they are usually not functional in the winter. However, a glassed-in sunroom or “four-season room” can cost considerably more since it warrants HVAC integration and an expansion of the insulation system.
While these rooms add value to the home, the variable costs warrant careful planning to determine how much value the room will have. The home’s location, sun exposure, materials, and weather patterns can impact the value created by the new addition.
4. Garage Conversion
While garages can be useful, not every homeowner needs enclosed space for car storage. Converting this square footage into something more immediately useful, such as a home office, gym, or in-law suite, is a popular choice. If done correctly, garages can even become rental units for an Airbnb or Vrbo side business.
For homeowners who don’t rely on indoor parking, these home additions are often the easiest way to add new rooms to the home. Since the garage structure is already there, the conversion costs less than a full construction in most cases. However, if adding plumbing or expanding the HVAC system is needed, this can create a cost increase.
5. Open-Concept Kitchens
Turning a conventional kitchen into an open-concept layout is an extremely popular home addition due to the increased utility and aesthetic appeal it provides. Many homeowners consider kitchen islands and open-plan, high-traffic spaces to be the epitome of modern home design. For homeowners who want to host parties, work from home, or interact with house guests, an open-concept kitchen is a great way to create a more consistent and accessible space.
Open layouts can be expensive depending on the additions required. Kitchen islands are a common addition requiring new plumbing and electrical hookups to create an ideal multifunctional space. Custom cabinets, new appliances, and high-end counter materials add up into a sizable project budget, depending on the space and the choices the homeowner makes.
Consult Professional Designers to Make Valuable Home Additions
At Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath, our team of designers works with in-house material suppliers and contractors to help homeowners plan and execute the perfect home additions start to finish. We know that regardless of the goal of the construction or expansion, careful planning and budgeting is essential to getting the most value for the cost of a new home addition.
Our clients choose us not only for our outstanding quality, but also for our customer service. We work on every project with the same care and dedication we would our own. Contact our team today to start planning the right home addition to add value, beauty, and functionality to your home without breaking the bank.
