Home Addition vs Remodeling: Which Is Right for Your Growing Space Needs?

When your family is outgrowing your home, just like all Irvine homes, you might find yourself asking the same question: Home Addition vs. Remodeling- which one is the answer to your space problem? They can be installed by Johnny Ray Construction in Irvine, Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, and Trabuco Canyon, and it will depend on your current floor plan more than your preference.

Home Addition vs Remodeling: What’s the Real Difference

A remodel alters the contents of your home’s footprint. Walls remain fixed; you’re working on layout, finishes, and function. A home addition is adding square footage to your home, be it a new room, a second story, or an extended footprint on your lot.

If your home has plenty of room, but the layout is no longer effective, remodeling is the right solution. Now, layout issues, not space issues, include an outdated kitchen, a cramped bathroom, or a living room that feels closed off. If it’s really the space you need, an addition to the house is a logical solution. You can’t get a fourth bedroom out of a three-bedroom house by any reconfiguration of the space.

How to Decide: Remodel, Add On, or Move

Here are some questions to consider before committing to square footage:

• Do you enjoy being here? When it comes to the cost of an existing home versus a larger home, it’s often cheaper to expand.
• Is the problem setup or size? A Kitchen Extension resolves a “galley” kitchen space. It will not correct an undersized house for a family.
• What would you like to do with your lot? Zoning and setbacks in Orange County affect the maximum yard extensions or elevation increases you can make, so a second-story addition may be the only option if the lot is small.
• What’s your timeline? When you are remodeling, it’s typically quicker because you don’t have a new structure to monitor.

When thinking about your home, you may only consider a remodel or move. In real life, the third approach is often the most viable one: to add usable living area to one’s current home that one enjoys, and which is already owned.

What Each Project Actually Involves

Remodelling has to do with finishes and layout; new cabinetry, new plumbing and electrical runs, opened-up layouts, new wall removal. It’s disruptive, but contained, as you work within an existing structure.

A home addition will include a new foundation or footing, framing, roofing tie-in, and complete mechanical, electrical, and plumbing rough-in for the new addition. The most common additions that are requested that we see in Orange County are master suite additions and family room additions, and the next most common addition is a second-story addition on a lot that cannot be expanded out.

Construction permits are required by the local building department for both types of projects, and for additions, a plan review for structural changes and for zoning compliance is usually necessary. The cost of doing a remodel is typically less expensive per square foot than the cost of a house addition because you aren’t adding a new foundation, roof section, or exterior finishes. The discrepancy becomes less significant with higher-quality remodels with the relocation of plumbing components or removal of load-bearing walls.

Why Irvine Homeowners Work With Johnny Ray Construction

Johnny Ray Construction is a licensed general contractor (License # B1049481), and a locally owned general contractor in Irvine and the surrounding cities in Orange County. The answer we give is not a “one-size-fits-all” answer, but rather based on your actual floor plan and your lot. We perform all sorts of residential remodeling, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, floor, and home addition projects.

We do not swing a hammer before an addition passes through permitting! We don’t swing a hammer before an addition passes through permitting here! When you’re considering an addition versus a reconfiguration of your plan, we shall be honest with you and let you know which one will give you more space sooner and for a more affordable price.

 FAQs

What’s the difference between a remodel and a full addition?

When your house has enough total square footage, but the layout doesn’t make sense, a remodel typically does. If you need an actual bedroom or bathroom, or living area that does not currently exist, you need additional square footage. A free consultation at Johnny Ray Construction involves examining your floor plan to help you determine which of them will apply.

Is it always cheaper to add on to a house or is it cheaper to remodel?

Yes, in general, per square foot, since an addition requires a new foundation, framing, and roof. A modest addition will be less expensive than a comprehensive remodeling of the house that requires relocated plumbing or structural changes. Johnny Ray Construction does not have a typical rule of thumb.

How much longer does a home addition take than a home remodel?

A standard remodel can take a couple of weeks to months, depending on the extent of the work. Accommodations would be for permitting, foundation, and inspection, which will take 3 to 6 months. Before beginning any work, Johnny Ray Construction promises to provide you with a written schedule for your project.

In Irvine, do you need to get a home addition permit?

Yes. The local building department will need to review your plans and issue permits for any project that involves expanding the space or changing your home’s structure. Permitting will be done in-house by Johnny Ray Construction, eliminating the need for you to deal with the city.

Is it possible to put a second story on rather than expanding out?

Yes, and sometimes the smart choice on smaller parcels with zoning setbacks that restrict expansion. A second-story addition will provide a lot of additional living space for you and give you more yard. Before recommending this approach, Johnny Ray Construction inspects your existing structure’s foundation and framing to ensure it is capable of supporting a second story.