Expanding Your Home with Granitech: Essential Tips for Seamless Additions

Transcription

Nora Duran: Hello, everyone. Welcome to today’s episode of our podcast. I am your host, Nora, and I’m thrilled to have you with us. I witnessed firsthand the incredible transformations people can make to their homes, from cozy basement conversions to expansive second-story additions. The possibilities are endless. Today, we have an incredibly special guest who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the realm of home additions. Our expert has seen it all and done it all when it comes to transforming spaces. Whether you’re dreaming of a sunlit summer room or a spacious new bedroom, you are in the right place to get all your questions answered.

So today, I have Ali with us from Granitech. Hi, Ali, how are you?

Ali Yılmaz: Good, how are you?

Nora Duran: I’m good, thank you very much. So, I just want to dive right into the heart of it. I want to know, what are the initial steps homeowners should take when considering home additions?

Ali Yılmaz: The initial steps for an addition would be actually considering the space that your family now needs. The expansion plans, how much of an expansion you would need. Part of that also is, with that expansion plan, something to consider majorly is the budget that we would need for this expansion plan. And now, what kind of expansion plan? What spaces would you need? And which contractor would you hire? Those would be, I believe, the major initial steps.

Nora Duran: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. You know, proper planning is really crucial. It’s like building a strong foundation before you start adding the layers. Right. So, now moving on to something that can be a bit of a maze for many, the regulations. How do local building codes and permits impact the home addition process?

Ali Yılmaz: Yes, it does impact a lot. After the initial consideration of home additions, the major component is the local building codes. Permits follow right after that, but with the building codes, the most important part is the amount of buildable square footage we have on our lot. That actually brings in the question of what are the required setbacks, which determine the size of the expansion of the home project or the addition. Once those are eligible, the build permits will follow right after that.

Nora Duran: Yes, interesting. A lot of details are involved when it comes to regulations, and it’s good to know what to expect upfront, you know. So, another important aspect is ensuring the new addition blends seamlessly with the existing structure. How can homeowners ensure their addition matches the existing style and structure of their homes?

Ali Yılmaz: Yes, yes, that’s very important. And especially, this is a very important step. Having, of course, a good designer who is experienced in home additions is the number one key because the designer can actually create a stylish look, not particularly to match the house, but to sort of blend in with the new trend.

Ali Yılmaz: That’s option one. The second option is if we are in an HOA environment where we need to be regulated by the HOA, which normally regulates the colors and style of the house, such as whether it’s brick or siding. These requirements from the HOA can be a little bit challenging. But, of course, the most common option is normally matching styles to the existing home. That’s always the number one choice. And if the HOA environment is not a factor, then we could actually get a little trendy and make it into a transitional look.

Nora Duran: Absolutely. Blending the new with the old is so important for that cohesive look. Thank you for sharing your insight. So, let’s talk about the attention to detail. What role do engineers and designers play in planning and executing home additions?

Ali Yılmaz: Yes, it’s a very important step. Engineers and designers play a big role in the design of the addition project because we can’t just design something without engineers providing the solution for the project. Engineers have to do the drawings to get the permits approved, as required by the building codes, like we discussed earlier. They need to meet those setbacks and building codes, but at the same time, provide what the designers have agreed upon and proposed, which homeowners would love. This is why it’s crucial to choose a company that has a good team of engineers and designers who work together to come up with the final solution.

Nora Duran: Yeah, it’s clear they’re essential for a successful project. I’m always intrigued by the creativity involved in home additions. What are some innovative design ideas for small bump-up additions?

Ali Yılmaz: Normally, the innovative designs involve adding a lot of light to the addition projects, bringing in large windows, especially if there’s nature in the backyard and a bit of privacy. This can create a beautiful transformation with natural light coming into the house, making it feel like you’re more outdoors in an open space. As for the roof designs, we could add some stylish elements to the exterior of the home, adding colors, and more, like gable-style roof designs and a French country look. These are very trendy designs right now.

Nora Duran: Yeah, fantastic ideas. It’s amazing how small additions can make a huge difference and have a big impact. I’m always so intrigued by them. So now, I want to talk about different types of additions. Can you explain what an interior addition is?

Ali Yılmaz: Yes, an interior addition is basically adding a footprint to an existing home, meaning we are adding finished square footage to the house. This could be a bump-out in the kitchen, an additional family room, or enlarging the family room. There are different types of additions, like one-story additions and two-story additions. For example, if you’re bumping out the kitchen, you could also add a master suite right above it. Now you could have that freestanding tub you’ve always wanted or a large shower, or add a sitting room to the master bedroom. So, there are one-story additions and two-story additions, which are most common, as well as, of course, adding a sunroom. These are interior finished spaces, which we’ll talk about in the next section.

Nora Duran: Yes, yes. I want to move on to sunrooms. What are the benefits of adding a sunroom to your home?

Ali Yılmaz: Yes, sunroom additions are among the most popular interior projects in the addition category. Sunrooms are a big plus and can be all-season or fully finished with air conditioning and heating, becoming a large room that your family can enjoy with lots of beautiful sunshine and natural light. You could even have windows with screens that can open and close electronically, which you could use in the beautiful fall days to let in natural air, or close them in the winter and have the heat on. This makes a sunroom a wonderful addition to a home. Families spend a lot of time gathering there, reading books, watching movies, or just enjoying the natural light.

Nora Duran: Yeah, sunrooms sound like a wonderful addition. I can imagine how much enjoyment they could bring to a home, especially with the natural light and everything. Similarly, garage conversions are becoming quite popular. How can a garage conversion be effectively utilized to add living space?

Ali Yılmaz: Yes, garage conversions are really effective and have become a big consideration for homeowners recently. We’ve completed a few projects where there’s limited land and we cannot expand the home into the yard or setbacks. In such cases, we convert garages into master suites. A three-car garage can become a one-car garage, using the extra space for a large bathroom and a walk-in closet. This is becoming a major choice for homeowners. Also, if the garage is next to the kitchen, laundry room, or mudroom, extending the kitchen into that space can be a unique solution when there’s no room to add to the lot.

Nora Duran: Yeah, it’s a great way to make use of existing space, right? I’m sure many of our listeners will find this idea very appealing. So, when is a second-story addition more beneficial than expanding outwards?

Ali Yılmaz: Yes, that’s a very good question. Second-story additions are very beneficial, especially when we have no more room to expand the home anywhere.

Ali Yılmaz: Sometimes we do have the room, but then you sacrifice your deck or your outdoor space. However, if we have a two-story house, like a split level, and we only have one level on the first floor, we can always go up. If there are no height restrictions in the county, and most of the time there aren’t, we can always build up more easily than expanding the house toward the backyard.

For example, we just finished a project recently, last year. It was a 1,700-square-foot house. We took the roof off, the homeowners moved out, and we added three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the second story. This was an easy option to add space quickly. Since we didn’t have any room to expand the house outward, we went vertical. Second-story additions are very beneficial because, rather than tearing down the house and rebuilding, the cost is much lower, and we can go straight up to add that extra space.

Nora Duran: Yeah, that’s a great point. Sometimes building up is really the best option, especially when the lot space is limited. I want to talk about misconceptions. I’m sure there are a lot of them when it comes to home additions. What are some common misconceptions about home additions?

Ali Yılmaz: The biggest misconception we encounter is that homeowners think they can just do whatever they like, avoiding permits, building codes, and the engineering part of the project. They believe that building codes and HOA requirements aren’t important, but these are very critical steps that people often overlook.

Another misconception is about cost. Especially with the recent increases in building costs due to the recession, some homeowners think they can just go out and buy another house instead of adding to their existing one. But that’s actually a very expensive option. It’s often much cheaper to stay and build an addition to your current home than to buy a new house. People think it’s easier to just buy a house, but it’s much more expensive. Those are some of the important misconceptions I can think of.

Nora Duran: Misconceptions can definitely lead to unexpected challenges, and knowledge is always power when it comes to home renovations. I want to talk about another concern: budgeting. What are the most cost-effective types of home additions, and why?

Ali Yılmaz: The most cost-effective additions are typically those that add interior space without major changes, like expanding a family room or adding a sunroom. Kitchen additions, on the other hand, are more costly because there’s a lot more involved—making the kitchen bigger, adding cabinets, countertops, and appliances. Kitchens involve a lot of components, so they tend to be more expensive. But family room additions and sunroom additions are very cost-effective because they primarily involve adding interior space.

Nora Duran: So, I’m just curious about one more thing. Is it generally cheaper to build a new house or to add an addition to an existing house?

Ali Yılmaz: That’s a simple question with a simple answer: Absolutely, adding to an existing house is much cheaper than building a new house.

Nora Duran: For sure. It’s interesting to compare the two and see which makes more financial sense. Within those projects, what are the most expensive components of a home addition?

Ali Yılmaz: The most expensive components are the structural elements of the project. The structural elements are the bones of the structure, while interior finishes like drywall, paint, fixtures, and recessed lighting are more cost-effective. The cost of the structural components can be managed, but it all starts with the choice of contractor.

Choosing a good contractor from the beginning of the project can help you budget the entire cost plan effectively. A lot of homeowners start with open-ended contracts and open-ended budgets, which can end up costing them hundreds of thousands of dollars more. This is why it’s so important to select a contractor who clearly lays out the budget and contract from the start.

Nora Duran: Managing costs effectively is so important. Thank you for those insights. I just want to move on to the execution phase. What are the most common challenges encountered during a home addition project?

Ali Yılmaz: Normally, with a good plan—and I’m not going to mention building codes or permits because we’ve already discussed them—a licensed contractor, a good engineer, and a designer should be able to lay out a plan that executes building permits on time and without issues.

The major complication we usually see is when homeowners decide to stay in the house during construction. It gets complicated because now you have a major addition in progress, and you’re living there, squeezed into a corner of the home with temporary kitchens and living spaces. It can be challenging.

Ali Yılmaz: So, we highly recommend that clients, on larger addition projects, actually move out and rent a temporary home while the project is being completed in a timely manner. This will really simplify things.

Nora Duran: Yeah, these challenges can really be daunting, and it’s good to be prepared and know what to expect. How long does it usually take to complete a 400-square-foot home addition?

Ali Yılmaz: A 400-square-foot home addition, from signing the contract and getting the final design approved by the client, takes about three to four months, including permitting and execution.

Nora Duran: Yeah, that’s a reasonable timeframe. What are the potential risks, and how can they be mitigated during a home addition?

Ali Yılmaz: The potential risks usually involve design selections and backordered items, especially in kitchen additions where appliances might be backordered. This is why it’s important to have one of the best design teams put the entire selection process together, with everything decided before the project starts. Another potential risk is the timing of the project—starting during the wrong time of year can be risky, especially with weather conditions. For example, rain can delay the project if the new structure isn’t quickly closed in. So, weather elements and selections need to be well managed and planned out.

Nora Duran: Yeah, it’s great to have different strategies in place to handle any surprises. Now, let’s talk about value. How can a well-planned home addition increase the overall value of a property?

Ali Yılmaz: Like any remodeling project, such as kitchens and baths, home additions play a significant role in increasing the property’s value. For example, a kitchen remodel might add $50,000 to the value, and a bathroom could add $25,000 to $35,000, depending on the size. But with home additions, you’re not just remodeling; you’re adding living square footage to your home. So, if your home goes from 2,000 square feet to 2,500 or 3,000 square feet, it can add significant value. A 400-square-foot addition could easily add between $200,000 to $250,000 to your home’s value, drastically increasing its overall value.

Nora Duran: Yeah, the investment really pays off, right?

Ali Yılmaz: Absolutely.

Nora Duran: So, what are the latest trends in home additions that homeowners should be aware of?

Ali Yılmaz: The latest trends definitely focus on kitchens, as they provide the most value. In the past, kitchens were built very small, often without an island or entertainment space. But now, especially since COVID, we’re seeing a trend toward larger kitchens because they add the most value to a home. Another trend is two-story additions, where the existing master bathroom is expanded into a fourth or fifth bathroom, with larger walk-in closets, a freestanding tub, a larger shower with his-and-hers sides, and seating areas in the showers. Sitting rooms are also being added to bedrooms on the second story. So, two-story additions and kitchen expansions are becoming very trendy.

Nora Duran: Yeah, exciting trends. It’s always good to stay up to date with the latest innovations. Can you share some success stories or examples of particularly challenging home addition projects you’ve worked on?

Ali Yılmaz: Yes, absolutely. Different counties and cities have different codes, and working in cities or historical towns can limit what we can do with particular additions. These need to be very carefully planned. For instance, on one of our projects, we wanted to add a master suite, but we were limited on that side of the house due to setback requirements. What we did was utilize more room on the east side of the house by relocating the garage. We converted the existing two-car garage into a large master suite. People often ask how we level the concrete floor with the rest of the house, but it’s quite simple. We bring the floors up with a floor system, build right over the concrete, and close up the garage doors to match the exterior with brick. Setbacks are one of the biggest challenges when it comes to addition projects. We’ve also built out second floors with steel beams to expand outward without increasing the footprint, creating overhangs of up to three or four feet. This approach helps us overcome challenges and add valuable space.

Nora Duran: And finally, what advice would you give to homeowners to make their home addition process as smooth as possible?

Ali Yılmaz: The biggest advice I can give is to carefully choose your contractor. The experience of the contractor is crucial—how long they’ve been in business, how many customers they’ve served, and their referrals are all very important. It’s essential to check their referrals, especially for larger projects, to ensure they’re qualified for the type of project you’re planning. I also recommend meeting with the entire team from the beginning, not just the salesperson. Salespeople can sell you the job, but once it’s sold, you might find yourself disconnected from the design team. So, when having initial conversations, request a Zoom meeting with the design team and the salesperson involved. This way, the salesperson can deliver the budget, and the design team can deliver exactly what you need for the project. Meeting the entire team from the start is one of the biggest pieces of advice I can give.

Nora Duran: Yeah, that’s excellent advice. I’m sure our listeners will take it to heart and act accordingly. Thank you so much for sharing your insights and expertise today. It’s been incredibly informative and very helpful. This wraps up today’s episode. Thank you, Ali, for all your expert opinions. Thank you for joining us, and thank you to our listeners for tuning in today. Until next time, happy remodeling!

Ali Yılmaz: Bye. Thank you.