Did you know that three out of four American homeowners have completed at least one home improvement project during the COVID-19 pandemic?
With all of us social distancing and spending more time indoors, it’s no wonder so many homeowners have decided to renovate and update their homes the past year.
Over the years, the team at W.E. Davies + Sons Remodeling, Inc. has come to understand the power of home additions and what they can do for property value and a person’s identity as a homeowner. Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve overseen a new wave in home additions throughout the Madison, WI, area, and we’ve learned that in challenging times, there’s nothing better than feeling safe and comfortable in your home.
A spacious home is a happy home, and if you’re interested in adding square footage to your property, we’re here to share some of the best home addition ideas for 2021!
Expand Your Kitchen
If cooking and enjoying food with your close-knit family is your idea of a good time in lockdown, why not add more space to the heart of your home?
Kitchen remodeling costs can quickly add up, but there are small makeovers that can transform your kitchen space and make it feel larger. For starters, you can open up your kitchen by knocking out a wall and creating extra counter space. Or, you could install new cabinets and optimize your storage space to create the illusion of more space.
But if you’re looking to eventually add a kitchen island or have ample counter space for all your cooking and baking endeavors, a kitchen bump-out is the best option. A kitchen bump-out is less expensive than a full addition, and it can even cost less than a major kitchen renovation, depending on how much square footage you add and whether you’ll need to update the rest of the kitchen.
With a bump-out, you’ll only add space to the kitchen. You could potentially extend the addition into an adjacent dining or living area. A kitchen bump-out addition usually requires a foundation, new siding, insulation, flooring, roofing, and some electrical and plumbing work.
Price Range: $5,000—$30,000
Enclose Your Patio
Do you enjoy sitting out on your patio during the summertime? By adding a patio enclosure, you can create a space where you can enjoy the breeze and scenery all year long.
There are partial patio enclosures and full patio enclosures. With a partial enclosure, you leave part of your patio open to the outdoors. Typically, a partial enclosure will incorporate a patio covering and screened windows and doors if there are walls. These additions are usually on the cheaper end of the spectrum, especially if walls and subsequent insulation and windows aren’t added.
With a full patio enclosure, you can expect to add a new foundation, insulated walls, glass windows, doors, heating/cooling, and electrical work. A full patio enclosure will result in higher costs because you’re essentially adding more living space. However, you can expect to improve the resale value of your property in the process; and even if you don’t plan to sell for years to come, you can enjoy riding out the rest of the pandemic in a cozy and peaceful sunroom setting.
Price Range: $8,300—$24,500
Add a Second Story
You declutter, create storage space, and complete small home improvement projects to no end, and still, you feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable in your home.
If this describes you, you may be thinking a second story addition is far too challenging and drastic — but we’re to tell you that it can make all the difference if you’re ready to throw your hands up, sell, and upgrade to a larger space.
A second story addition can entail expanding part of your one-story home into a single room or adding a completely new second floor. Either way, the added square footage can add square footage, increase the property value, and strengthen the structure of your home as a whole.
Here is a range of ideas for a second story addition:
- Loft conversion
- Bedroom & bathroom
- Apartment addition
- In-law suite
- An entire second floor with multiple rooms
Realistically, adding a second story is one of the most expensive home addition projects you can embark on. Still, it can pay for itself in the long-run, especially if you plan to sell once your children have grown or the property values in your neighborhood have increased.
Price Range: $100—$300 per square foot
Finish Your Basement
From an in-home movie theatre or second living room to a play area or home gym, there’s no shortage of ideas when it comes to renovating and finishing your basement. The basement may already be a pre-existing space, but by finishing and expanding upon its square footage, you can improve your home’s energy efficiency and property value simultaneously.
The budget for a finished basement widely varies. Depending on how you decide to transform your basement, you can expect to pay more if you need to do any or all of the following:
- Replace the insulation
- Install new floors
- Reframe the walls
- Put up drywall
- Add heating and air conditioning
- Update the electrical work and plumbing
If your basement experiences excess moisture, or if there is already damage to the basement’s structure, repairing the foundation may also be necessary. Because while you may not be expanding outward like a typical home addition, a finished basement still requires a stable foundation.
Price Range: $2,800—$34,000
Are You Considering a Home Addition in 2021?
Chances are you’re spending a lot more time indoors now that it is wintertime in Wisconsin. You and your family could benefit from added living space — and luckily, there are home addition projects for small and large budgets.
If you’re setting your sights on building a home addition in 2021, W.E. Davies + Sons Remodeling, Inc. is ready to help. Contact us today to discuss your ideas, and let’s get to work!
