Image of The Average Cost of a Room Addition in Los Angeles

A room addition is an excellent way to add more space and increased value to an existing house. A newly built room can have multiple, different uses ranging from a guest room, to a home office, to a personal gym. There are few limits, however, the cost of the addition is certainly one of them. The process of building a new room is similar to building a house, so many of the same factors apply. This means that anyone interested in building a room addition to their house will be familiar with many of the procedures needed to begin the project.

A room addition is a large-scale project, so it is necessary to hire the right people to do it for you. Pacific Green Homes will build your room addition to your exact specifications and complete the job to your satisfaction regardless of how big or ambitious the project may be.

The Factors That Affect The Cost of a Room Addition

The main factor is the size of the room being added, the average cost of a room addition is between $170 and $250 per square foot, so the bigger the addition, the bigger the cost. Another factor is the type of room being built, a room like a kitchen or bathroom will cost more because of the plumbing and electrical work that is necessary. This can add $15,000 to $40,000 to the cost of the room addition. That price range is based on the other cost factor, the quality of the materials used, since higher quality materials can increase the budget of the home addition.

Why Does a Second Story Room Addition Cost More?

The location of the addition also plays a part in its cost, as second story additions tend to be more expensive because of the extra work that needs to be done. This extra work can include reinforcing the current foundation in order to support the extra weight of the new room. An engineer will need to be consulted to find out if the exterior walls need to be reinforced as well.

There is also more demolition involved since the roof will have to be rebuilt and reinforced to accommodate the room addition. There is also more alteration of the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems. The first floor will also need significant reconstruction since a staircase to the second story addition needs to be built. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC utilities also affect the budget depending on the extent to which they need to be incorporated into the room. All told, a second story home addition costs can range from about $80,000 up to $400,000, though the average is typically in the $150,000 range.

Other Budget Considerations of A Room Addition

Aside from the cost of constructing the room itself, there are other budgetary concerns that need your attention. Such as:

Demolition work and site preparation
Pouring or reinforcing the foundation
State or county fees that need to be paid
Furnishing the new room once it is complete

Another possible expense is where to stay while the construction is going on; it is possible to stay in the house while a ground floor addition is being built, but that is not a good idea if a second story room is being added to the house. The significant demolition and reconstruction taking place is highly disruptive to everyday living. If you and your family can stay with a friend or relative while the second story room is being built, then that is ideal; if not, then the cost of temporary lodging needs to be taken into account.

A Room Addition in Los Angeles is a Smart Choice

The addition of a new room to the home is a huge project that is not to be taken lightly; the cost is hardly insignificant and it might seem like it takes longer than it should, more so, if it is a second story addition. However, the rewards such an addition can yield are incalculable, unless, of course, you plan to sell the house later. In which case the reward is very much calculable in the value the addition adds to the price of the house.

Otherwise, the space and sense of newness the room addition affords—without the need to buy a new home and deal with all the hassles that entails—makes the whole project worth the time and expense. Call Pacific Green Homes to minimize the time and expense it takes to build a brand new room addition to your Los Angeles home, one that will make it feel brand new all over again.