The 3 Most Common Types of Home Additions

If your home is lacking space, but you aren’t looking to move, a home extension might be the right alternative for you. We’ve put together an overview of the three most common types of house additions. Keep your needs and wants in mind when checking out all you need to know about these types of home additions. 

A lateral house extension

What is it? It’s quite simple: it’s extending your house sideways (i.e. taking up more space on your land). More often than not, people opt for a garage as an extension. Some even get a room above their new garage. It’s usually a bedroom with a walk-in closet and bathroom. However, you’re free to put any kind of room above the garage, like a cozy living room to sit back and relax.

What kind of house can this be added to? Usually, a lateral extension is added to a cottage that already has a second floor. You can also extend a bungalow if you simply want to add a garage or room and your land’s space permits it.

What you need to know: Avoid making the mistake of rushing a final decision. It’s important to be well informed beforehand. For instance, some municipalities have specific rules regarding what kind of materials are permitted for the extension’s siding. To provide a unified and homogeneous look to your home, using brick (if the rest of your home’s siding is brick) might be mandatory. Although CanExel siding can be appealing, you might not be permitted to install it. It’s important to take these details into consideration when budgeting out your house addition.

Gelinas Project – Garage Construction

Photo Source: Pinterest

Adding another floor

What is it? This house addition is essentially adding a second floor to your home. It is typically of the same surface area as the ground floor and is quite the undertaking for home addition contractors.

What kind of house can this be added to? In most cases, floor additions are added to bungalows. Second storey additions are fairly common. Though, partially enlarging a split-level home can also be considered a storey addition. In both cases, the same kind of structural work is needed.

What you need to know: For security reasons, your municipality may require the seal of a structural engineer as the house’s foundation must be able to support the weight of the additional floor.

This type of house addition consists of reworking the ground floor. Why? Because, for starters, you’ll need to find a place to build a staircase leading to the second floor. This means that you’ll need to take up space from an existing room or hallway to do so. Also, since you’re already getting a pretty big job done, you might want to renovate your kitchen another room at the same time. Most people opting for a house addition tend to do so.

Of course, getting a second storey added involves demolishing the roof. You’ll, therefore, need to find another place to live during the renovation process.

Gilbert Project – Bi-generation Second Storey Home Addition

Photo Source: Pinterest

A rear house addition

What is it? It’s an extension of the back of the house into the yard. This type of home addition is typically used to add a solarium, or even to extend the kitchen.

What kind of house can this be added to? It can be done on most kinds of homes, such as cottages, bungalows, etc.

What you need to know: There are two different kinds of rear house extensions:

House addition on piers

For this kind of renovation, there’s no need to dig and pour concrete for a foundation. This option tends to be used to build sunrooms or family rooms. The area below the new room can be used as storage space, but won’t be habitable.

Adding a second floor is rather rare and not permitted by many municipalities. Considering this, you may opt for a rear house addition. However, to maximize overall comfort in the room, installing a heated floor is best. A home addition on piers will feel colder than other parts of the house.

Carles Project – Home Addition

Photo Source: Pinterest

House extension on a foundation

Extensions done on concrete foundations are done on houses with habitable basements. This kind of addition allows you to expand your home on both floors. For instance, you can put in a playroom in the basement and a solarium on the ground floor.  Of course, a house addition on a concrete foundation is more expensive than one on piers.

Gagnon Project – Home Addition

Photo Source: Pinterest

How much does house addition cost?

It’s hard to say as each project is different. However, you can get an idea of what your home addition might cost you by taking a look at our article on the cost of a home addition.

Get started today

Our Renovation Advisors have worked on thousands of projects. They can provide you with a rough estimate of how much your house addition project can cost you. They can also refer you up to 3 home addition contractors to quote on your project.

To be better prepared for your home addition project, take a look at the 9 steps to a successful home addition.

Ready to take action? Call us or fill out our form to begin getting quotes from Verified Contractors.