What Is The Average Cost Of A Home Addition?

If your home is starting to feel a bit overcrowded but you are not quite ready to sell it and buy a larger one, a home addition could give you the extra space you need.

In addition to creating a significant amount of extra living space, adding space on to a home can increase its value. Homeowners who add on a bathroom, master suite or two-story full addition can recoup as much as 53%, 63% and 65% of their investments, respectively, at resale, according to HomeAdvisor’s 2019 State of Home Spending report.

Although the full amount invested in the work may not always be recovered at resale, homeowners should consider the value of what they will be getting out of the extra space while they still live in the home. Having additional space to live comfortably can significantly improve a family’s quality of life.

Factors Impacting A Home Addition Cost

There are many details that impact the cost of a home addition. Below are some of the biggest factors that determine how much you can expect to spend on your home addition project.

Square Footage Of The Addition

The square footage of the space involved is often used to provide a general estimate of how much an addition might cost. Although it may seem logical that larger rooms will cost more, it is also important to consider the nature and location of the addition. It might be more challenging to add on to certain existing rooms because of their layout, and additions on the second floor of a home can be more expensive than those on the ground floor. If the addition involves building an entirely new level, it can raise the cost of the project substantially.

Materials Used During The Addition

The materials used to carry out a home addition can have a large impact on the price. The quality, size and rarity of the materials used all influence the overall costs of the addition, which means that homeowners on a budget can bring the cost of the project down by choosing materials wisely.

Materials costs also vary based on the type of room that is being added; kitchens and bathrooms tend to require multiple features and fixtures like cabinets, sinks, countertops and faucets, whereas bedrooms tend to cost less.

Estimated Time The Addition Will Take

Another factor that may influence the cost of a home addition is the amount of time the addition will take. Additions that take longer to carry out will generally incur greater labor costs, which naturally raises the price of the overall project. In addition, in cases where homeowners are in a hurry to expand their home, they may pay a premium for their contractor to prioritize their work over other projects.

Another cost to consider is permits. These can cost several hundred dollars each, and multiple permits may be necessary depending on the type of addition in question. Some permit approvals may take several weeks or even months and can hold up the project significantly, although contractors may be able to get approved faster.

Amount Of Labor Required For The Addition

One of the biggest expenses when it comes to home additions is labor. All home additions require a variety of professionals, although this does vary depending on the type of addition.

Architectural services and planning require hiring licensed professionals, while complex additions require the work of electricians, plumbers and carpenters. When a bathroom is being added, for example, the location of pipes in relation to the new bathroom and whether or not plumbing will need to be rerouted can change the price significantly.

When calculating costs, it is important to account for tasks such as setting up the site, the construction itself, handling materials, removing waste from the site and cleaning up.

What Is The Average Home Addition Cost In The Washington, D.C. Area?

Home additions are very popular in the Washington, D.C. area right now. The cost of these projects depends largely on the type of work being done. Outlined below is a look at the general prices that you can expect to pay for some of the most common types of home additions in the area.

Expanding The Ground Level

Expanding the ground level in some way, such as by adding a sunroom onto an existing first-floor room, generally costs around $200 per square foot. Kitchens and bathrooms tend to cost more to add than living rooms or additional bedrooms.

Adding Another Level

Adding another level onto a home does cost more than additions on the ground level, but it is not as expensive as some people expect because there is no need to build a foundation.

Right now, the average cost of adding another level to a home in the Washington, D.C. area is approximately $250 per square foot. It is important to keep in mind the costs involved in bringing plumbing and electrical wiring up to the new floor in addition to the framing and drywalling that must be installed.

Digging Out A Basement

Another popular home addition is digging out a basement. This is a particularly attractive option for homes that have no space within their property lines in which to comfortably grow outward or upward.

Although digging out a basement may be more expensive than some of the other home addition projects, it can dramatically increase the amount of living space available. Homeowners in the Washington, D.C. area can expect to pay around $300 per square foot for a basement addition.

Get Started With A Home Addition Today

If you are interested in learning more about adding on to your home, get in touch with the home addition experts at Dirt Connections. Their experienced contractors can guide you through the process, make recommendations and provide an estimate for your project. Whether you want to add a small sunroom off of your living room or you need an entire second story built, they can help transform your home into the space of your dreams.

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