Building Up or Building Out: Which Home Addition Is Right for You?

More than 4.6 million U.S. households were multigenerational in 2018. An increase in family size requires an increase in living space. Your family may need more space, and a new addition will help increase your usable living space. There are two options when adding space to your home: building out and building up.

Building Out

Building your home outward will increase the footprint of your home. This type of addition requires a zoning check. Your home addition contractor will be able to assist in ensuring zoning regulations are followed.

Building an external addition requires contractors to dig a new foundation, set up walls and ceilings, then link the space to your existing home.

Pros:

Building out has the least disruption to your home life. The extension can be completed externally before internal home changes are made. This will allow your family to stay in your home for most or all of your home construction.

Cons:

A build-out increases the footprint of your home and may lead to zoning issues. Your city may also have restrictions on the square footage allowed on your lot size. Your family will lose yard space, so talk to your home addition contractor about how to optimize your indoor and outdoor usable space. Digging a new foundation will also require the need to check power and sewer lines.

Building Up

Your family can add a second (or third floor) or extend an existing upper level above your home or garage. Changes are required in the roof to support the addition of an upper level.

Your home addition contractor will discuss safety needs and weight restrictions with your family to ensure your build is sturdy for generations.

Pros:

There are fewer zoning requirements when building up and as long as height restrictions are met your extension will not affect power or sewage lines or require extensive paperwork for approval.

Cons:

A second-floor addition requires a stairwell which can take up 80 – 120 sq. ft. of living space. This change may affect your current downstairs floor plan. Building up might require your family to live in a different location during construction as walls and ceilings will need to be removed.

Talk to your home addition contractor to find out what home addition is right for your family.

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