Designing Remodels

It's Not Rocket Science

A room addition or any other major remodel is not difficult
Before you can accomplish anything you have to put some ideas on paper. Thoughts milling around in your head are worthless until you do something with them. Thinking will get you nowhere, action will get you anywhere you want to go. It takes some effort
but if you are serious about doing a large remodel it is worth the time.

You can make your basic design on 1/4" graph paper. It doesn't have to be perfect, just good enough

Draw the exterior outline of the addition & then draw another line about 1/16th of an inch inside the first. Mark windows, door, fireplace, fans etc. Indicate anything that is going to be enclosed inside the exterior walls. Draw any partition lines & closets. If you know what
sizes you want then mark them accordingly.

Take another sheet & lay out your roof. It is not hard. Your choice will probably be either a shed type: High at one end & low at the other. Gable Roof: A roof with a peak (Ridge) Or a Hip roof a three-sided roof: A gable roof with a third gable side. Each roof
should have an overhang of at least 6" (More is usually better) plus Gutters & down spouts.   Mark the location of any skylights you may want.

Don't forget to plan the entrance to the addition from the house. Are you going to have a door, doors, large wall removal? If it is a second story addition you are you going to need room for a staircase to the second floor.

Off to the side write down all the features you want the addition to incorporate. e.g.-Siding type, window type, fireplace details, roofing type, type of heating, air conditioning. additional electric work.  Include anything you can think of that is on your wish list.

When you think you are all finished, take more paper & change the window locations, door location, fireplace location, change everything.

Repeat again for the third time.

Now is the time to call in a Remodeling contractor. Show him what you have done & ask him to suggest any changes to your plan. Then ask for an estimate of the cost.

Do this three times. Now you have a good layout & three estimates. There is no need for an expensive architect. Save your money. The chosen contractor will take care of the approved building plans & you are ready to go.

Make your final decision. Don't look back.

"Oh boy, that's a lot of work" Yes, but that what it takes when you are going to spend what seems like a bazillion dollars. Believe me, it is worth all the effort. Actually there is much more to it than what I just described.

This is just one of the ways you will save thousands of dollars (there are several more methods in my bag of tricks to save even more thousands).

I have been in almost 6000 homes in my career doing estimates for homeowners. I know the business & how it works. If I can get you to listen you will save thousands of dollars.
              
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If you want to try an inexpensive designing software instead of graph paper (you don't buy it, you "rent" it), I found this very good 3D software program. It's easy to use & has plenty of features. 

You can find good local remodeling contractors here