A room addition can and should be a remodeling project that achieves two things:
• Adds value to your home
• Adds to your enjoyment of your home
“It’s hard to increase value to the fullest potential if the new wing or second story looks thoughtlessly ‘glommed on’”, says Art Stinson, CGR, CGP, CAPS, president of Trace. Common culprits to additions that look out of place, according to Art, include a disjointed roofline, new windows that are different in size and style from the existing ones, and little regard given to mass and scale.
Whether a home is 100 years old or built a decade ago, appropriate additions can simultaneously achieve the residents’ lifestyle goals, retain architectural character and boost value. That effort begins with a thorough understanding of a home’s current conditions. To achieve this, design/build professionals will:
• get a site survey and investigate zoning overlays and municipality restrictions
• check out utility easements, setbacks and other factors that might impact the location, size and shape of the addition
Then the endeavor turns to matching the needs of the residents – be it a home office, family room or master suite – to the conditions and character of the house. Design/build professionals will carry this out by:
• Considering proper proportion, scale and form to achieve harmony between the new and existing structures
• Giving thought to rooflines and how the addition will tie in to your house
• Leveraging an established network of resources to get materials that match or complement the roofing, siding, windows and other exterior finishes
“The ultimate goal is to make the new construction appear seamless, as if it was there all along,” says Art. No matter what the original structure’s architectural style, whether ranch, four-square, Tudor Revival or anything else, an appropriate addition harmonizes with and does not detract from the existing home. Both thoughtful design and skillful construction are required in order to enhance the home’s outward appearance, neighborhood stature and future marketability.
