Categories: home improvement

Multi-Story or Multi-Room Additions: 6 Tips to Success

When space is already at a premium in your home, giving it a cramped feel, you should consider an addition. There’s plenty to like about this upgrade. For starters, the extra room or story can increase comfort and privacy. Plus, you can customize the new room for a specific purpose or, perhaps, a hobby. But whatever the goal, there’s one fact to always consider: you have to take measures that ensure your multi-story or multi-room addition will be a success. 

But First, a Quick Overview About These Home Additions

Homeowners planning an addition usually need to decide whether they want to build up or build out. Whether you choose one or the other, you’ll have to take their unique set of requirements into account. Here’s a brief look at what to expect:

  • Multi-Room Addition
    This is the “build out: option. Investing in a multi-room addition involves knocking down a few existing walls to create more space to your home. Meeting your family’s changing needs becomes easier with this upgrade. Do you need the extra room to comfortably accommodate an elderly parent? Do you plan to create a dedicated office inside your home for your work-from-home needs? Depending on your lifestyle, budget and available space in your property, a multi-room addition can be a worthwhile investment.
  • Multi-Story Addition
    You might say this is the “build up” option. A multi-story home addition is a bit more complex than a multi-room one. For one thing, adding an extra floor will wholly depend on the structural load of the main residence. A multi-story addition may not be viable if your home’s foundation isn’t strong enough to handle the extra load. The project comes in four types:
  • Building a brand new upper level from scratch, where the roof will be torn off to make way for the addition
  • Removing and replacing the roof, which means severing the roof around the edges, removing it temporarily and putting it back once the new frames are in place
  • Expanding a current space, like, for example, a flat one-story section of your home where you can build an upper level
  • Going for a modular design, where the upper level is designed and created offsite, and then brought fully built to your home

No matter the addition you’ve decided on, you can make the process run smoothly and ensure successful results by doing the following:

  1. Start the project the right way. You’ll need to have all the bases covered when you’re planning a multi-room or multi-story addition. For instance, you need to be familiar with local laws that might affect the overall design of your project. Not only that, if you live in an homeowners association (HOA) community, you also have to check the HOA covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs), and ensure you get the necessary approval before starting any work. Note that getting the HOA to green light your home addition can take 14 days up to a month, so make sure to time your project right.
  1. Make sure you have the budget for the addition. Basically, you won’t get very far if you lack the necessary funds for your project. The good news is that financing a major home addition is mostly simple and convenient since most remodeling and new construction companies offer a variety of payment options. Some even offer flexible financing programs so that cash won’t get in the way of your home addition. Now speaking of budget, make sure you have one set aside for contingencies. Unwelcome surprises are not uncommon in home additions, and you’ll want to be prepared in case one pops up during your project.
  1. Consider new exits and entrances, plus traffic patterns. Do so if your property has enough space for a multi-room addition. You’ll want to make sure moving into, out and across your new spaces is simple and effortless. This is crucial in emergencies, where knowing exactly where and which exit to use is the top priority.
  1. Finalize your choices. Change orders is something you’ll want to avoid in a home addition or during any remodeling project for that matter. They’re costly, they delay the project, and they are only necessary if you absolutely HATE the way your addition is looking. To prevent change orders and keep your project on track, make sure you know exactly the design, color, theme and layout you want. Communicate all of these clearly with your choice of remodeler so you’ll be happy with the results.
  1. Move somewhere else temporarily. Unless you can endure the noise and mess involved with a home addition, it’s better to stay someplace else until the work is completed. This way, you and your family will be safer and more comfortable. And if you have small kids and pets, it’s just plain better to not have them near the worksite.
  1. Work with a reliable remodeling company. Once you’ve thoroughly checked your remodeler’s background, schedule a virtual consultation with the company. Watch closely how the person talks to you and how the pro answers your questions. A personality check is essential. It’s not enough to just hire a credentialed remodeler – you should also choose one that you know you can get along with throughout the project. After all, you’ll be interacting and working with the team throughout this extensive process.

Why Ritco Group Is Your Top Choice

Compared to other remodeling projects, multi-room and multi-story additions come with an additional layer of complexity. They are upgrades that homeowners should not attempt to DIY, certainly, unless they’re confident about their skills and experience. Still, the better idea is to hire people who have made home remodeling their profession – and have built quite the exemplary reputation. Ritco Group is exactly this. We remain the go-to company for quality remodeling services in the Middle Tennessee areas because:

  • We have the necessary qualifications. At Ritco Group, we want you to feel at ease. When you choose us to handle your remodeling project, you know that you’ll be working with a fully licensed, bonded and insured company that ensures your greater protection. If you ask us to show you proof of our credentials, along with the applicable workers’ compensation and liability coverage, we’ll be more than happy to comply.
  • We have served Middle Tennessee communities since 1970. You wouldn’t want to leave your home addition or new construction to someone inexperienced. Choose Ritco Group instead. Our team is highly trained and skilled, completing projects in a timely and efficient manner that leaves no room for mistakes. Backed by almost 50 years of experience, our superior workmanship is one of the reasons we maintain an A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau.
  • We are customer-focused. Ritco Group aims to not only meet your expectations, but to also exceed them. Our skilled design team will work closely with you, listening to your needs and goals for your home addition, and effectively incorporating them into the finished project. We give every home remodel our full attention, and we make sure to cover its every aspect to prevent mistakes, change orders and unnecessary delays. Delivering full customer satisfaction is our goal.
  • We comply with building codes and regulations, always. We’ve mentioned that home additions, especially multi-room or multi-story ones, can be more challenging than standard remodels. There are many things to consider, especially when it comes to safety. Ritco Group is familiar with the building codes and requirements specific to Middle Tennessee. We always make sure that every project we complete is up to code.

Worry-Free Home Addition Services

Whether you need high-quality home additions or professional roofing new construction, Ritco Group can deliver the best results. Using proven, customer-centric approach, our professional design team ensures that your completed project is exactly what you want. We proudly serve the areas in and around Brentwood, Franklin and Columbia, TN. Call us today at (931) 381-0175, or fill out this contact form to schedule your consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

Richard Thompson

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