Introduction to Room Additions
An addition is any structure added to a building, usually in the form of an extra wing, porch or room. Home additions are beneficial for various different reasons, particularly because it’s a cost-effective way of increasing the size of a house without needing to move. An addition might also be necessary if there are new family members, relatives or frequent guests who plan live in the house often.
Another reason to add a home extension may be to build a home office. Some people who decide to work at home may want to build an entire wing or room to devote just to office work. This can make it much easier to telecommute without distractions.
In addition, if a company is expanding, it may need a supplementary wing to accommodate more resources—such as inventory, equipment or employees. A wing may also be needed, depending on the type of business. For example, a hospital might add an additional wing to expand a nursery or more room for labs or medical equipment.
Other types of home room additions include:
• kitchen additions
• bathroom additions
• family room additions
• basement additions
• living room additions
• dining room additions
• master suite additions
• sun room additions
Addition Materials and Tools:
Home additions use a variety of materials depending on the building type, but cement is often used in the foundations of all buildings. Concrete—made up of a combination of materials such as gravel, sand, cement, and water—is often used because it is a stronger medium when combined with metals, like steel bars.
For the walls of an addition, materials needed include drywall, insulation, plywood, plumbing pipes, electrical wiring and paint.
Home additions require a variety of construction tools. Large-scale tools, such as cranes and bulldozers, might be needed if the addition is in an area that needs to be prepared for building. Smaller scale tools like hammers, drills and measuring tools will be used as well.
Cost of Additions:
Room additions costs for buildings can range in price widely depending on the square footage, type of amenities, and construction materials. Before factoring in wiring and plumbing, the costs per square foot is between $80 to $130. If you need to do extensive new wiring or plumbing, then the cost would be significantly higher.
If the area that needs to be ventilated is a long way above the ground, then doing natural ventilation becomes much more difficult. For room additions in business settings, costs can be much higher. For example, a wing in a hospital might need extensive hookups to accommodate all the high tech equipment that would not be necessary in a house addition.
Qualifications to Build Room Additions: Just like most of construction, there are few official qualifications needed for building additions. However, there are many academic qualifications that exist that can help those who need building additions choose the right professionals for the job. For example, there are degree programs at the undergrad and graduate levels for architecture, engineering. Building Studies, and so on.
It’s also possible to get a card from the CSCS, which certifies building professionals. It’s a good idea to check the degrees and certifications, as well as track record; of any professional you have work on your house to create building additions. This ensures that no damage will come to your home.