A home addition is not a project that should be undertaken on a whim but only after careful consideration and adequate research. Many Toronto homeowners have successfully completed additions to their properties in the past few years but unless you think about all the salient factors beforehand, you may not be so lucky. In this short guide, we are going to offer some pointers to help you ensure that your next home improvement project is a resounding success.
Home Additions: What to Consider Before Proceeding
Before you get in touch with a local contractor such as ourselves, think about the following points concerning your proposed addition.
- The Overall Cost – One of the most common problems encountered by homeowners in Toronto and elsewhere who decide to extend their property is that of letting costs spiral out of control. To prevent this from happening, it is important to discuss the scope of work with your contractor before the project starts and to have a contract drawn up that specifies exactly what you are paying for in painstaking detail. It may sound like a bit of a drag but the more time you spend on planning and drawing up a detailed contract, the less problems you are likely to encounter once the construction phase of the project gets under way.
- The Existing Foundations – The type and condition of your property’s foundations may play a part in deciding which type of home additions are practical for you to consider and which are not. If you have no knowledge of the type or state of your foundations, you can always call a building specialist and ask them to take a look at the plans and inspect your home if necessary. In some cases, upper storey additions require the strengthening of foundations, which will increase the cost of the project. If this is the case with your property, you may prefer to extend outwards rather than upwards.
- The Contractor – The most important factor to consider when planning home additions of any type is who you are going to hire to carry out the work. You should of course limit your choice to reputable contractors with a proven track record, for obvious reasons. It is also a good idea to focus on those construction firms who specialize in domestic properties as they will have a greater knowledge of the type of problems that can be encountered when completing such projects and will be able to ensure they are not an issue as far as your addition is concerned.
- The Time of Year – If you are considering an attic conversion, the time of year you decide to have the work done is not particularly important. However, if you are planning a home addition that involves exterior construction work, you will want to make sure that you schedule the project at a time when prevailing weather conditions are least likely to cause delays. It is for this very reason that most people schedule home additions for the summer months rather than during the wintertime.
There are of course many other factors to consider when planning an extension to your home but we do not have enough time or space to discuss them all here. If you would appreciate some expert help and advice concerning home additions in the GTA, please do not hesitate to call Karen Homes whenever convenient. As one of the area’s leading custom building contractors, we would be delighted to provide you with a competitive quotation for the work you would like done and to help you choose the best type of addition for your home.