It happens: we outgrow our houses. The easiest solution is to sell your home and buy a new, larger home. However, given the state of the housing market, that's not a feasible option for many of us. If you have the space, adding on to your current home can be more affordable and also more sustainable than starting with a blank slate.
Evaluate Your Family's Needs and Budget
Assuming that you've confirmed that you do have the exterior space to add on to your home (make sure you check for setback restrictions), think about what type of additional space you really need - bedroom, den, larger kitchen, storage or work area, for example.
If you are frustrated that every room in your house feels too small, a single room addition probably won't alleviate that feeling - you'll need to take on a large scale interior renovation to change the overall layout. However, in some cases, adding on an extra room that serves a specific function will satisfy your family's needs.
Before undertaking any major home remodeling project, determine your budget. You may have money in savings, or perhaps you'll choose to take out a loan. Either way, have a concrete number in mind before you begin. If you plan to sell at any point in the foreseeable future, consider how the addition will impact the resale value of your home.
Hire a Green Team
Unless you have extensive home-building experience, you'll need to hire a contractor to construct your home addition. Look for green contractors who have portfolios of sustainable homes and additions. They will provide you with an estimate for your project so you can ensure that it's within your established budget.
Always ask for bids and references from several contractors before selecting the right one.
Also consider hiring a LEED Accredited architect to guide the design of your home addition. This is an especially good idea if your addition will become a highly visible part of your home, and/or your home is historically significant. Any addition can benefit from the insight of an architect, who will either expertly blend the new portion with your existing home or come up with an entirely new look that differentiates and enhances the two. Your architect can also recommend the latest in eco-friendly building materials.
With your green team in place, they'll help you nail down the major aspects of the project: design, cost and of course, those pesky building permits.
Sustainable Elements of Additions
Additions should follow the same green building principles that we preach for new construction as well as renovations:
- Make a plan with your contractor to recycle construction waste and divert it from the landfill.
- Incorporate building products made of recycled or sustainable materials, such as FSC wood or bamboo and cork flooring.
- Install adequate insulation in the new structure and energy-efficient windows.
- Rely on passive design strategies to provide natural ventilation and daylight to reduce the load on heating, cooling and lighting systems.
- Select energy efficient appliances with the Energy Star label.
- Use paints, caulks and adhesives that are low VOC.
Improve the House as a Whole
The success of a home addition is measured by the extent that it improves your family's quality of life, but also the way in which is melds and becomes a part of the rest of your home. Your home addition must tie into your home's existing systems, and it's very important that it doesn't overload them. However, if the addition is designed to be very energy-efficient, that shouldn't prove an issue. In fact, you should take the opportunity presented by having a contractor onsite to complete your addition to improve energy efficiency for your house as a whole.
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Should you build a house addition?