How Much Does a Home Addition Cost?

What Is a Room Addition?

The majority of homeowners love the idea of an addition, but they don’t know where to start. Room additions are an excellent way to increase your home’s overall value, add more living space, and even conserve energy. When it comes time to sell, you’ll reap the rewards of your investment in your asking price.

What to Expect When Planning Your Budget

If you’re looking to add to your home, many factors go into deciding whether it’s the right decision. Typical costs for adding onto a house vary depending on what type of addition and how big it is. Costs can also increase if foundation work is mandatory before construction starts. A 20×20 room addition can cost between $400 and $600 per square foot, depending on whether you want a simple structural upgrade or a more premium facelift. That roughly factors out to $160,000–$200,000 on average.

You might be eager to get started on your new home addition, but it’s essential to choose a qualified full-service contractor first. This step is critical because of the complexity of building a structure as large as a home addition. The process includes not just framing and lumber but also permits and inspections from local building departments. You need someone who knows how to navigate all those requirements successfully while keeping the project moving along at a steady pace.

Here are some basic guidelines to manage your budget and your expectations:

Designing the Addition

An architect can help develop the extension and ensure it matches the existing home. This step can total between $5,000–$30,500 or more for complex home additions.

Excavation, Demolition, and Site Prep

Preparing your house for excavation can cost $15,000–$150,000, depending on how much groundwork you need to prepare on your property to make way for a new addition.

Roofing

Whether you have a small project like a dormer or a big job like an entire second story, most people don’t realize how much they should be budgeting for their roof. Expect to pay around $400–$600 per square for a roof. Steel, slate, support beams, and trusses can all add to this cost.

Fixtures

Each door will add around $2,150+ to your overall budget, while windows can cost between $1400 to $2,400. Ceiling molding adds another $15 to $30 per foot. If you plan to add space to a kitchen, it’s wise to budget for more than just the flooring. You’ll also want to figure in electrical work, plumbing, and appliance costs.

Foundation

Planning your new addition involves determining your needs’ best layout, style, and materials. The primary function is to transfer loads from the roof or upper floors to the ground. A new foundation can cost $14,000–$52,400, depending on the project’s size and materials.

Before you consider building your own home, make sure that it is allowed, and the process will not be too complicated. Your city or county may have a permitting authority that can give you this information and tell you which companies in your area are qualified to build modular homes. You’ll also need to contact your homeowners’ association (HOA) for any restrictions they might have on construction within the community. The HOA could require approval before work begins.