How Much Does A Room Addition Cost

Most American homeowners would pay $40,942 for a cost of adding a room – based on the recent median reported expenses in the United States. The figure might be the closest thing to an exact quote but the crude average cost range is between $21,459 and $63,088.

The lowest conceivable budget is only $7,000 while the most expensive outlay exceeds up to $100,000. It is important to consider having full knowledge of what type of room addition you want. Ultimately, the type of home add-on will affect your overall budget.

Out, Above, Under…

When you ask yourself “how much does it cost to add a room?” the first step in the right direction is to know what kind of room you are adding. It is important to take note that the usual cost per square footage is anywhere between $80 and $200.

The most popular version is building out – which means you extend another room at the same ground level. One of the upsides of this variety is that it is relatively easier to construct. However, this building out proves relatively costlier.

On the other hand, a popular alternative is to extend from above. Building an upper floor room could save extra costs from laying the foundations. Unfortunately, stacking another deck is subject to town’s strict rules when it comes to the height of your home.

The last alternative is to dig a basement as a home addition. This kind of setup may have its own share of challenges. However, recent studies show that you can pay 25% to 50% less of the room addition price in choosing basements.  

Skeleton Breakdown of Room Addition

• Site Preparation

When it comes to preparing the site for construction, the amount of work directly affects the necessary cost. You are looking at about $300 to $500 in terms of removing a wall or a roof section. If you plan to build a basement, the excavation cost is around an average of $2,559.

• Foundation

A ground floor addition requires a solid foundation. The cost for pouring concrete will entail an average of $75 per cubic yard. Fortunately this does not apply in second floor add-ons. The overall span of the concrete foundations poses a significant contribution to your cost for adding a room.

• Framing

The budget for building support beams and roof binding is around $15 to $30 per square foot. It is important to consider that these frames should assimilate well with the fundamental design of the existing home.

• Roofing

For economical purposes, asphalt and wood are ideal materials you can use for roofing. Asphalt costs around $80 and $100 per square. Wooden shingles entail a fee of about $90 to $150 per square. Fortunately, you can save expenses from roofing if you choose a basement add-on.

Secondary Phase

• Outer & Inner Finishing

Both the outer and inner walls make up a visible portion of your overall cost of adding a room. The sliding and trim require an average cost of $7 per square foot. For interior finishing that includes the ceiling and the walls, you are looking at an average cost of $9 for every span of 4 ft x 8 ft. Fortunately basements already remove the cost for outer wall finishing.

Doors, Windows & Ceiling Moldings

The average cost of a door could be anywhere around $175. For each window, you are looking anywhere between $300 and $700. Ceiling moldings costs about $3 per foot. Luckily for basements, you no longer need windows.

Utility Installation

Electrical wiring & HVAC

For the electrical wiring, the feasible costs pertain to the service terms of the electrician. In the United States, electricians charge $50 to $100 per hour. Installing pipes and vents adds $1,050 on top of the total room addition price. However, it is important to take note that this average price could change depending on the existing HVAC system.

Professional Services

• The Planning Committee

Given that home additions are important construction endeavors, you need to hire some experts who will run the numbers down to its most exact precision. These professionals guarantee that your home add-ons will not collapse and they will appear exactly how you want them.

A consultation with an architect usually costs 8% to 15% of the total project budget. For small properties like home additions, you are looking at $300 to $500 for hiring a structural engineer.

• Subcontractor Staff

Apart from electricians, you may also need to hire carpenters and painters. A carpenter usually charges around $70 per hour. Hiring painters will cost you around $20 to $35 per hour. These people are paid to do the brunt of the labor as well as the finishing touches.

Cost-saving Tips

• Be a part-time architect

One of the best ways to save money for building home additions is to do the initial mathematical equations. While the architect smoothen the rough edges of your measurements, it is important that you at least know that size is relative to cost. Seek out minimalist designs and present it to your commissioned architect to make the most of it.

• Compare notes and quotes

How much does it cost to add a room? This is the exact question you will be asking from a remodeling company. But you need to ask it to more than one contractor and provide the measurements you and your architect already laid out.

While you’re at the task of doing research, it is important that you ask for their exact quotation and whether or not it is on par with their reputation. You can choose at list three contractors and compare each of their overall figures.

• Roll up your sleeves

Remember that you will be paying electricians, carpenters and painters per hour. Being able to reduce those hours by doing some of the work yourself is the best way to save expenses. Menial tasks like removing residue trash or transporting materials is something which does not require special skills. You can save even more if you know how to paint, drive nails on wood or bolt wires along corners.