Loft Room Addition Example – Photo Credit Curtis Adams / Pexels.com

In this article we’ll explore the differences between external room additions (AKA “Add Ons”) and internal room additions (AKA “Add Ins”). We’ll also consider the advantages and disadvantages of each choice.

Room Add On or Room Add In?

Are you considering the pros and cons of adding in to an existing room or maybe doing a whole new room add on? If your family is growing and you are feeling the squeeze in what once seemed like a spacious enough home then you might be entertaining the following three home remodeling project options.

Lots of folks in Poway are thinking about room additions to their homes. Either going outwards (single story) or upwards (second story) with new room additions. But there is another lesser known option. Have you thought about “add ins”? This is where you add a room into into existing floor plans such as an internal room addition. There are lots of ways to do this. Some examples include,

• Building a loft in high vault ceiling
• Garage remodeling into bedroom or home office
• Master Bedroom / Master Bath
• Adding a walk-in closet to a large bedroom
• Dividing 1 great room into 2 separate rooms by adding a new internal wall
• Adding a bathroom inside a bedroom, or under the stairwell
• Building a new laundry room addition

There are many benefits to adding internal rooms instead of adding on new rooms. And vice-versa too. It all depends on your want, needs, budget, and your expectation. So let’s explore some of your room addition options.

Exploring Your Options

Wine Tasting and Storage Room Add In to Living Room

1) Adding in to you home, making smart use of already available space.

Internal room additions are great for adding more usable living space inside your San Diego home. Create more bedrooms, an office, or add a bathroom. Lots of possibilities! There are a variety of reasons such as growing families or change of needs. So you make sure your house supports all the growing needs of you and your family.

It is not always possible to move to another house when you find that your existing one is not able to match your growing needs. Sometime building onto your home is not an option either. This could be due to cost and budgeting, lack of yard space to expand into, or perhaps dealing with a difficult HOA.

Room add ins include: Garage conversion (into bedroom, game room or office), loft conversion, splitting a great room into two separate rooms, bathroom additions, master bedroom conversion, office conversions, bonus rooms, built in entertainment centers, kitchen remodeling and expansion, etc. The ideas are limitless. So building room additions inside your home is a option for expanding the usable square footage of your home without the higher expense of adding more square feet to the outside of your home.

Advantages:

• More space to enjoy and grow into.
• You stay in the same home you know and love.
• A lower home remodel cost
• Less noise and dust during construction
• Also there is less involved in obtaining necessary building permits.

Drawbacks:

• The loss of previously open spaces that gave the area an “open” feeling.

What’s involved in internal room additions?

The easiest way to add a room inside your home is to split one large room into two smaller rooms. This is done as simply as constructing a wall between them. Then you can add closets, cupboards, fixtures, etc. We also add electrical outlets to the new walls.

Some Internal Room Addition Examples:

Sample of utility sink in laundry room addition courtesy iStockPhotos.

• We can add a bathroom into an existing bedroom for example.
• Or split a great room and make two bedrooms.
• Build a loft into a vaulted ceiling.
• Convert unused attic space into a loft or enclosed room.
• Add rooms inside your garage.
• Wine storage room.

Bump Out Internal Room Addition

Here’s a fun example, we did a “bump out” mini breakfast nook internal room addition for a client in San Diego. The possibilities are nearly endless!

2) Adding onto your home, making it larger with a room add on.

Example of “Adding On” with external room addition.

Room add on (AKA room additions). You can add a second story, or a room new bedroom, or another garage, the possibilities are only limited by how high and how wide you can go on your property.

Advantages:

• More space to enjoy and grow into.
• You stay in the same home you know and love.
• More privacy.
• Higher resale value.

Drawbacks:

• Displacement during construction.
• Possibly upsetting noise sensitive neighbors,
• Higher home remodeling cost.
• Loss of yard space if expanding outward.

3) Move into a larger home (if you don’t like options 1 and 2).

This option may or may not include a home expansion remodeling project but let’s face it, there will certainly be personalizing involved. While moving to a new home is an exciting option it comes with a much higher cost. Plus all the hassles of moving; such as, new numbers, maybe putting the kids in a new school, leaving memories behind, and the potential of your new neighbors being less than hospitable toward you.

Advantages:

• Instant Results
• Exciting new option for change

Drawbacks:

• New loan (or lease), must meet income and credit requirements
• Going through the moving process
• New environment (neighbors, schools, drive to work, etc)

More Examples of Adding In to Your Home

Common themes in Poway and San Diego county homes include high vaulted ceilings in downstairs living rooms, dining rooms and family rooms. While these are ascetically pleasing, and can promote a large sense of space, they can waste available living space.

Loft Additions are Popular

Example of Loft Addition courtesy iStockPhotos

A loft conversion room add on can transform your unused wasted empty high vaulted ceiling space or attic space into a functional loft room or living area. After all, you already have the space there, right? It’s just waiting to be developed and used. Creating a loft also tends to cost less because instead of adding to the house, you will be working within its existing dimensions and foundation.

Some like the high vaulted ceiling look. I get it. It’s spacious, airy, and feels less confining as you enjoy open space above you. But with any home design there are drawbacks. A high vaulted ceiling is open unused space that could be used for living or storage. A high ceiling also cost more to heat in the winter because heat rises. It therefore take s that much more heat before it reaches comfortable levels near the ground.

Vaulted ceilings also cost more to cool in the summer because where there is a high ceiling there is usually less insulation. Sure you can get a layer or two in a vaulted roof, but a crawl space attic offers far more space for insulation.

Custom Closets

When considering you next home improvement project take some time to think about having walk-in custom closets made for your home. A custom closet can be an add on or an add in. A large custom walk-in closet can seem like a room addition! Storage space is important, especially if you have a big family, lots of kids, or just have a bunch of stuff. But nowadays, having big empty spaces isn’t enough. I think if there aren’t walls around it, open space could be wasted space. That’s why it’s useful to organize with shelves, racks, drawers, and cabinets built in to save space and keep clean.

Walk-in Closet Storage is Awesome

You don’t have to settle for whatever space currently exists in your homes. If you need more, add it. If it doesn’t exist, build it!

You want walk-in closets built for function, quality, durability and you want it look good in your home. Add to the décor, not stick out like a sore thumb. This is where a good construction contractor like us comes in. We also have a superb design team as well. That way it’ll work well ascetically and functionally.

We can modify an existing closet internally, or expand it. Or make a walk-in closet by room addition, either internal or external. Or build an entirely new one where none stood before; bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, hallways, or even under stairs. The sky is the limit with our collective creativity.

Top 5 Benefits of HK Construction Custom Closets:

• Best closet design. We’ll come up with a design that suits your needs the best.
• Custom work. If you have a design in mind then we can build it to your specifications.
• Quality construction. We’ve been doing this for 25 years and we’re quite good at it.
• The price is right. We always work within your budget and try to avoid surprise expenses.
• Fast service. Our crews work quickly and efficient. We don’t cut corners to save time, we get it done right the first time.

Giving yourself more room for storage with a custom closet can really open up your home. Get that clutter out of the main areas and into a neat storage closet system that you truly can be proud of. What are you going to do with all that extra space?

When you hire HK Construction you are getting a professional design and construction team. We make sure your needs and best interests are completely met. A happy customer is the bomb to us! And also, a happy customer will tell their friends. We really do appreciate all the great testimonials and referrals we’ve been getting. So call us for a free custom closet quote and/or consultation.

Room Addition Considerations

Before planning internal additions you must be very clear about the nature of the additions you want to make to your home, and how it is going to add to its utility value. You’ll want to select the right construction company for the job. One that has a long positive standing in the San Diego construction industry. And has experience with internal room addition construction because this service calls for a great amount of creativity and impeccable workmanship to complete the room additions in the proper manner.

You must understand that the room additions when done in the right manner will be able to boost the utility value of your home tremendously. If you choose the wrong contractor you may lose lots of time and money.

The contractor you choose to do the internal room addition project must have:

• Long standing in the construction industry.
• High level of experience.
• Backed by latest knowledge of the current technical advances in the field.
• All the proper equipment.
• Knowledge of the latest trends and materials available.
• Special knowledge and experience in constructing internal room additions.
• Have completed many similar projects to the utmost satisfaction of the customers (good reviews)
• Legal knowledge and must be able to apply for and get all the permits, licenses and registrations to complete your room addition project in a legal and hassle free manner.
• A rough idea of the type of additions you want to make, the nature of alterations you need to do, and the look and feel of the new room after the project is completed.
• Be able to provide the right and the valuable inputs to you in developing your project as per the latest trends and design specifics.

In addition to creating the basic floor plan, lay out of equipment, the color scheme for the newly created room and furnishings your contractor must be able to take care of flooring, electrical circuitry and installation of the equipment and appliances, plumbing and fixtures installation, ventilation and air-conditioning etc.

HK Construction San Diego Room Addition Contractor

Since 1990, HK Construction is a popular choice among home owners and property managers for internal room additions.

Various examples of internal room additions include (but are not limited to):

• Adding bedrooms
• More bathrooms
• Creating man caves and game rooms
• Adding home bar rooms
• Creating a practically useful room out of your empty attic space
• Making functionally appropriate room additions for seniors and disabled
• Converting a vaulted ceiling into a loft area or remodeling an existing loft

Due to our extensive experience in room additions and home remodeling, along with all the glowing reviews from recent satisfied customers, we feel HK Construction is your best choice for all your internal room additions and home remodeling needs. We serve San Diego and all of San Diego County. We will complete your room additions projects in a timely fashion and to your complete satisfaction. Call Marc Gieselmann on 858-748-6580 for a free consultation and price quote.

HK Construction Leads the Field in San Diego Home Remodeling

If you move to a new home we can help with your home remodeling project to make it a perfect fit for your family. If you want to add on or add in to your existing home we are happy to help transform your current home into a larger living area that suits your new growing needs. No matter which option you choose HK Construction can help. Call us for a free cost savings analysis between the three choices outlined above. We’ll give you our best recommendation so you can make a well informed decision.

Since 1996, HK Construction has developed an unmatched reputation for quality, integrity and professionalism. As a family-owned and operated business with 1,000’s of satisfied customers, we’re proud to consistently meet and frequently exceed our customer’s expectations. So therefore we have reviews and testimonials of our good works spread all over the internet. Just Google us!

Finally, our hallmark is that we do really good work for a very fair price. When it comes to attention to details and communication, our project managers are thorough, extremely detailed, courteous, and caring of your wants and needs. Call HK Construction for a complimentary assessment of your home’s open space area so you can know what the costs involved might be.

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