This throw in of project is virtually always a job for a general contractor and/or a variety of subcontractors.
That doesn’t mean, however, that the owners are hands-off.
Your room addition will probably go together much more smoothly if you hire a general contractor.
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Be prepared for the fact that it takes a long time to build an addition to a house.
The time required is largely dependent on the availability of labor and materials in your area.
Secure Funding
Few homeowners can pay for a full room addition in cash.
Thus, a loan or line of credit is needed.
Securing a loan is, of course, dependent on a homeowner that has good credit standing.
Such borrowing should be done carefully, though, after consultation with a financial advisor.
Get recommendations from neighbors, friends, or relatives.
Theimportance of the contractorcannot be overestimated.
Don’t be afraid to ask the contractor about options for controlling costs during the early planning process.
There is no hard-and-fast rule on how payments should be scheduled.
More commonly, payment is made in two or three equal installments, keyed to important completion milestones.
When searching for a contractor, you may see the termdesign-build contractorused.
Design-build contractors have been around for many years and are commonplace.
Some design-build contractors are extremely competent, while others can be shoddy.
If you’re considering hiring a design-build contractor, carefully research their past work for several clients.
To prepare the site, large earthmoving equipment may arrive to strip the site to level, bare dirt.
Obstructions will be removedperhaps even some trees (if permitted by your community).
Fences will be temporarily taken down to allow heavy equipment to dive into the site.
Don’t fret about this seemingly extreme change to your property.
Build the Foundation
Most room additions get a full-scale foundation, just like a new house.
This can happen with surprising speed when a large, experienced crew does the work.
One day, you come home from work and find that the entire skeleton of framing members has appeared.
In other cases, certain elements are built off-site, then trucked in to erect in large pieces.
The roof is almost immediately covered with shingles or another finish roofing material.
Install Windows and Doors
New windows and doors are installed just after the roofor sometimes concurrently.
This buttons up the structure and keeps it weathertight for subsequent work.
Windows and doors for room addition are usually stock elements ordered from the manufacturer.
They are easily installed by the general carpenters.
The real snags tend to be associated with waiting for city inspectors to inspect and approve the work.
If they work steadily, workers will complete the insulation and drywall installation in just a couple of days.
Some of this work may be done simultaneously with the interior finishing work.
Delays are common at this stage, as these mechanical system subcontractors are in fierce demand.
Or, some homeowners choose to do planting and lawn restoration themselves.
Often, both the contractor and the homeowners compile their own lists and combine them into a master checklist.
Will yourtype of additionadd value to your house?
And are there any zoning restrictions that will alter your addition plans?
Building up is usually cheaper than building out.
Building up requires framing materials plus labor.
Raise the Roof (Or Build Out the Back).
Home Addition Costs by Room.National Association of Realtors.
How Much Do General Contractors Charge.Home Advisor.
Tips for Hiring a Contractor.Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.
Contractors Manual Guidelines.City of Charlotte.
52.232-5 Payments under Fixed-Price Construction Contracts.United States General Services Administration.
