Add on or finish what you have?
Finish the basement first if it has the headroom, a dry floor and a way to bring light in; build an addition when the room you need has to be on the main floor or upstairs. A basement already has its walls, floor and roof paid for, so its cost goes into finish work. An addition costs more, but it puts the space where the family actually lives, such as a bigger kitchen, a main-floor bedroom or a family room off the deck.
| Project | What it gives you | Typical time on site |
|---|---|---|
| Home addition | A new room on its own foundation, or a second story | A few months |
| Basement finishing | Bedrooms, baths, a family room or a wet bar downstairs | One to three months |
| Bathroom remodel | A bathroom rebuilt from the studs out | A few weeks |
| Egress window | A code-sized window and well for a basement bedroom | A few days |
| Kitchen | A remodeled kitchen, alone or with an addition | Given with the written price |
| New home | A new house, permitted and inspected at every stage | Given with the written price |
What happens before any wall comes down?
The paperwork and the planning. We measure the house, check the zoning rules for the lot, find where the plumbing and wiring run, and draw the plan the county will review. The permit drawings go in, engineering is added where the design needs it, and the materials are ordered so the job does not stall halfway with a room torn open.
How do you keep the house livable during the work?
By keeping the messy stretch short and fenced off. For an addition, the new room is framed, roofed and closed in before the old exterior wall is opened. For a bathroom, the tile, vanity and fixtures are on hand before demolition. In a basement, the work stays downstairs, and we plan the days the water or power has to be off with you in advance.
Inside and Out in One Plan
An addition often opens onto a new deck or a screened porch, and a finished basement with a walkout door is the natural place for a paver patio. When one company builds both sides of the wall, the floor heights, the doors and the drainage are planned together. For the outdoor work, see Porches and Decks and Patios and Hardscapes.