Have you decided that your house needs a lot more space? Does the idea of transforming your space excite you? Well then the two-story addition may just be the project for you personally. According to Remodeling magazine, the average two-story addition cost USD 69,857 in 2002. The resale worth is USD 65,524, an average return of 94 percent.
Here will be the best news about two-story additions: They cost much less per square foot to build than two single-story additions. According to builder Alan Hanbury, a two-story addition can price 30 percent less when compared to building two separate one-floor additions of the same square footage. That's because you only need to excavate once, you only need one roof, and if planned properly, you can line up plumbing and save a substantial amount of money.
The other great news is that you can use a variety of materials to cantilever the top floor so that the second story can be a number of feet larger than the first floor. This will provide you with extra design flexibility and help you add components, such as a small deck overlooking the back yard. There is a downside to adding on, however. It's a complicated job and you need to make certain that the people you hire can handle it.
Deciding to go ahead and build a two-story addition is a big step. It's going to price you a substantial amount of money. That USD 69,524 could easily increase by 50 percent, 100 percent, or even 200 percent if you get carried away and start telling your contractor, "Well as long as your guys are here, you might as well . . . "
Once you start down this path, you can kiss your budget goodbye. For example, let's say that your addition hooks as much as the kitchen on the bottom floor and access towards the top floor is via an existing bedroom. The family room looks great and its style is modern. But your kitchen's style is so 1970s. So you decide to take the plunge and remodel it as well. Or maybe you can reside using the kitchen, but the bedroom through which you access the new master bedroom needs to be transformed into an office. And while you're adding the master bath, you really have the urge to gut the outdated upstairs bath. This way lies madness.
The key is to get a clear scope of the project, determine a budget, and resist the urge to expand the budget by large multiples. That does not imply that you shouldn't consider the entire structure when taking on an extensive remodeling job. It just indicates that you need to do so in the planning stages in order to minimize the quantity and cost of any "surprises." If you're planning a two-story addition, you have to consider:
You need to remain especially focused. You will have every type of contractor working on your two-story addition - the same as for anyone who's building a brand new house. That means you'll likely invest a number of months under construction, maybe six months or more. The good news is that two-story additions can really be less disruptive to your house itself simply because you do not always need to open it up to the components till the addition is well on its way to completion.
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Note: This article was sent to us by: Nick Kendall at 01272011
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