Home Additions in Phelan, CA
Updated: Aug 5
There comes a time when the house feels a bit cramped. Perhaps the children are
reaching driving age and need their own rooms, or perhaps working from the kitchen table is no longer practical. Maybe there is a parent who needs to move in, or you just want more space without having to leave the lovely Phelan community that you are familiar with. This is when you realize that a room addition would be beneficial to your household and provide the space that you require to live comfortably.
Having an addition can certainly provide the bedroom, office, family room, bathroom, or living space that you need; however, room additions are large scale projects that require planning, design, permits, budgeting, and more before the first wall board is even installed.
Here is what Phelan homeowners need to know before starting their home addition.
Why Homeowners In Phelan Choose To Add On
The reality is, moving is not always the most practical solution when your house no longer serves your needs
Moving can result in leaving a community that you love, paying for a new mortgage, having to deal with the hassle of packing up, and potentially facing a whole new set of issues in your new home. That is why many homeowners decide it is best to improve their current home to meet their needs rather than start fresh elsewhere
Some of the most common reasons for adding on to a house include:
More space for the family
A formerly spacious home can quickly feel cramped as the family grows. Extra bedrooms, bathrooms, and family rooms can all give family members more space without having to move.
A home office
As much as working from the dining room can be fun at first, most people eventually outgrow it and seek a more permanent and appropriate space to work from.
Space for family
When adult children or elderly parents need to move in, a private bedroom, bathroom, or living area can provide the space they need to live comfortably in an environment they are familiar with.
Improved layout
Sometimes the issue is not the square footage but the layout. An addition can provide a better connection between the kitchen, living area, bedrooms, and outdoors.
The Different Types Of Home Additions
Every family is different and has different needs, but for many homeowners looking to add on, the question often begins with what they want or need.
A primary suite addition can give homeowners the luxury of a large bedroom with plenty of storage space, while a family room addition can give the family a nice area to gather without taking away from the kitchen space. Those who want to create a home office can have a proper workspace without sacrificing a bedroom, and an extra bedroom can give the family the space that they need without having to move. The options are endless, including a kitchen addition, bathroom addition, garage addition, and more.
The Importance Of Talking Through The Goal Of The Project With Your Contractor First
The best home addition projects begin with talking through the wants and needs of the homeowner with a qualified contractor.
At Eagle Mountain General Construction, our experts begin with listening. What is it about the house that is not quite to your liking or that you would like to change. By spending the time early on to discuss the expectations of the project, we can help set the foundation for a project that delivers the results that the homeowner wants and needs. This is also the time when we get to know the house. How accessible is it, and what considerations must be made regarding the layout, location, and more. It is always best to learn all that you can regarding a house early on in the process rather than later when project costs can be affected by things out of the control of the homeowner.
The next phase of the process then involves designing the project in relation to the house and discussing the details, including layout options, traffic patterns, and more. Good design not only focuses on the aesthetics of the addition but its functionality as well. A larger scale project may also involve structural planning and engineering for structural integrity and support.
What Phelan Homeowners Need To Know About Permits
With the exception of those in incorporated cities, most room additions in the unincorporated city of Phelan require a permit from San Bernardino County. According to the county, a residential addition of a room typically requires a building permit, and plans and documents must be submitted for approval before the project can begin. The review process can involve reviewing California Building Codes, the San Bernardino County Fire Code, development standards, and more.
This is yet another reason why it is so important to involve experienced professionals in building projects. It is not always easy to understand the building codes, requirements, and nuances of the jurisdiction that your house falls under.
A room addition can potentially involve structural work, electrical, plumbing, mechanical work, grading, setbacks, and more, depending on the scope of the project. That is why it is always best to work with professionals who understand the requirements that apply to your project and who can help ensure that your application is processed smoothly. Before beginning a project in the unincorporated area of Phelan, always consult with San Bernardino County Building and Safety regarding the requirements and the review process they may need to follow.
A Sample Home Addition Timeline
Each project is unique, and there are often a number of variables that can impact the timeline, but most additions tend to follow a similar pattern, beginning with the following phases:
Planning
The initial planning stage typically involves the discussion of goals, evaluating wants and needs, reviewing a budget range, and determining if and how the project can happen.
Depending on how much research needs to occur, the evaluation of the house, and the complexity of the project, this stage can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months.
Design
The next stage of the process tends to be one of the most involved for the homeowner, involving the design of the new addition and reviewing the details carefully.
It is not uncommon for this stage to end up taking longer than expected, especially for larger scale projects that require extensive design input.
Permit Review
After the designs are completed and all supporting documents are prepared, the documents must be reviewed and approved by the jurisdiction.
The timing of this process is highly dependent on the project, the documents, and the current workload of the reviewing department.
It becomes much easier to avoid unnecessary delays by spending the time to ensure that documentation is thorough and that no detail is missed that could lead to the need for revisions.
Construction
With permits in place, construction can then begin.
The timeline for this stage is once again determined by the complexity of the project, the size of the addition, how long materials need to be ordered, inspections, weather, and more.
While a small addition may only take a matter of weeks or months to complete, larger projects such as a primary suite addition can take significantly longer. It is always best to plan for these details from the beginning.
What Impacts The Cost Of A Home Addition?
There are numerous factors that impact the cost of a home addition, and there is no easy answer when it comes to budgeting for such a project.
It is important to remember that the size of an addition is only one small piece of the puzzle. Foundation work, structural integrity, roof lines, electrical and plumbing rough-ins, insulation, windows, finishes, and more all play a role in the final cost of an addition. The complexity of the project also needs to be taken into account, including the potential for additional structural support that may be necessary for the connection between the existing house and the addition. Adding a bathroom or kitchen generally also involves more work due to additional electrical, plumbing, and cabinetry.
The last thing to keep in mind is the value of planning and budgeting. It is always best to have a clear understanding of your wants, needs, and budget limitations before making design or material selections. That way, no one is surprised later on when the budget needs to be adjusted due to changes that may not have been fully understood at the outset.
Questions To Ask Yourself Before Beginning Your Addition
Before moving forward with the project, there are a few important questions that every homeowner should ask themselves in order to help set realistic expectations.
What are you looking to accomplish with the project? What are your wants and needs? Will this space still serve its purpose five years from now? What is a realistic budget for this project? What disruption are you willing to tolerate? Have you spoken with a qualified general contractor?
By asking these questions and spending the time to evaluate them early on, you will be able to create a project that meets your wants and needs while staying within budget and reducing surprises along the way.
Hire A Contractor To Help You With Planning Before Breaking Ground
Room additions are not small jobs; they can be complex undertakings that impact more than just the additional square footage. That is why it is so important to work with an experienced general contractor who will guide you through the process and who communicates openly throughout the project. You need someone who will help you make smart decisions, who will be honest about what a project can and cannot accommodate given your budget, who will not try to hide additional costs or changes from you, and who will take the time to pay attention to the many little details that will help ensure that your new addition feels like it was always a part of your home. Before hiring any contractor, be sure to verify their license through the California Contractors State License Board.
At Eagle Mountain General Construction, Inc., we always take the time to listen before we begin planning, and we always aim to install additions in a way that looks and feels like they have always been a part of the home. We take the same approach with every remodeling project that we undertake.
Contact Us To Learn More About Your Addition Options
A home addition can make a world of difference to the comfort and lifestyle of everyone in the household. Whether you wish to have more space or simply want to improve the functionality of your home, a room addition can do just that.
If you are considering a room addition, we would be happy to help you through the process.
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