Building a home addition is an exciting project that can add value to your home and provide more living space for you and your family in Sonoma County. However, it is important to consider several factors before starting construction.
Size and Scope
As is common with construction projects, the cost for home additions typically varies with total size. The larger the space, the higher the price. According to HomeAdvisor, the cost of home additions ranges from $80 to $200 per square foot. Adding an extra room is a common project, and the average cost ranges from $30,000 to $80,000 for a 20 by 20-foot room, including more customization or luxury fixtures on the highest range.
Labor and Permit
Labor costs on large projects like home additions can’t be avoided and often make up 30-50% of total expenses. You will likely employ skilled laborers such as electricians, roofers, siding contractors, drywallers, and painters depending on what kind of space needs building.
Home additions require building permits from local authorities. Your local general contractor in Santa Rosa will obtain one first before proceeding with the project plan. Building permit costs around $400-1,850
Materials
Concrete, wood framing, drywall, paint, electrical wiring and ductwork, roofing materials, and plumbing supplies make up just some of the materials necessary for home additions. Other customizations might include flooring, exposed beams lighting, fixtures, windows, and doors. Thinking of adding a garage will depend on some factors that vary significantly, depending on whether or not an automatic garage door must be included. Each material carries with it an associated costs that depend on current market prices.
Read: How Much Does it Cost to Paint A Room?
Location
Construction costs vary considerably by state and city. Homes could vary significantly in valuation in coastal urban areas versus cities further inland. Therefore. home addition costs will reflect both your current valuation as well as labor and material expenses in that region.
Building Up vs. Building Out
Building additions onto a Santa Rosa home comes down to two options: up or out. Building upwards tends to be cheaper when working with smaller lots. Building onto an existing garage makes sense since its foundation can handle the additional weight. Building out may cost more because a foundation must be laid, as well as potential structural concerns related to supporting rooflines and walls during home extension construction. Discuss this decision with your contractor for optimal results based on both budget and property size.
Contractor Services
Hiring a general contractor might seem costly and intimidating at first, but their peace of mind when managing complex projects makes the expense worthwhile. A good general contractor will secure permits, hire subcontractors as required, buy materials on time, coordinate schedules for them all as necessary, and ensure everything moves along on schedule.
Cleanup
Home additions tend to be quite a mess despite efforts made to limit dirt and debris. Contractors should allocate sufficient time and resources for post-construction cleanup during their contract. This requires hauling away extra materials as well as cleaning all floors, walls, counters, and windows of dirt, dust, and debris that has accumulated as part of this project. Post-construction cleanup costs approximately $550 on average.
Home Addition Cost: DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
Home additions can be challenging in that each step of the complex construction process must be considered. Since home addition costs can quickly become uncontrollable, it can be tempting to wonder if you can do at least some of the work on your own. You could safely handle some DIY tasks to prepare the site, such as removing existing landscaping, demolition on non-structural features, painting the finished room or installing new landscaping. However, unless you’re skilled at other tasks like plumbing, framing, roofing, and installing drywall, a professional general contractor in Santa Rosa should handle the project.