Designing Additions & Renovations
Hello, readers! Welcome to the Architecture Plus blog! We provide useful information concerning architectural design, unique trends, and essential aspects of the residential and commercial building process. Based out of Charleston, our full-service firm specializes in new residential construction, renovation, and commercial design. We aim to create sustainable structures which facilitate the health of their inhabitants while pairing harmoniously with their surrounding community. We encourage you to take a look at our residential and commercial galleries to glimpse our work and assess our artistic vision. If you need any additional information, reach out to us! We are members of the Better Business Bureau, the American Institute of Architects, the National Association of Home Builders, the Royal Institute of British Architects, and are licensed in South Carolina, North Carolina, as well as several other states. The members of our firm hold over sixty years of combined experience and are dedicated to continued excellence. You can contact us through our website or by calling (843) 718-3416.
Our last article was dedicated to the design and development of healthy buildings. How can a building give back to not only its inhabitants, but also its surrounding community? We sought to answer this question by analyzing what makes a building healthy, how a building can respond to the needs of a community, and how significant a role architects play in creating fully-integrated, sustainable living and working environments. By quoting health impact assessments performed with the purpose of demonstrating the link between housing and health, we hoped to prove how conceptual design can alleviate real-world problems. In addition to health and safety, we took a brief look at the social and economical impact of building projects. If you’re interested in learning more about how buildings fit into a larger framework of human health or how to design your own ethically-conceptualized building, please give our last article a quick read!
Today, we’ll be discussing the design phenomena of additions and renovations. Unlike designing new builds, renovations and additions rely on adapting an existing structure. For architects, this presents its own unique benefits and challenges. We’ll go over what’s different about designing for renovations and additions, what to consider before undertaking your own renovation or addition, and the pros and cons of each. Before we delve into the nitty-gritty, we’ll first clarify the subtle difference between “renovating” and “remodeling.” Though these terms are often used interchangeably, renovating actually refers to primarily cosmetic changes, such as replacing fixtures and painting walls. Meanwhile, remodeling refers to structural changes which affect the existing layout of the space. Given this difference, during this article, we will still use both interchangeably. We have another article explaining the differences between renovation, restoration, and rehabilitation, which you’re welcome to read here. We hope you enjoy this deep dive into designing renovations and additions!
Before Designing
Before designing, it’s important to understand the true scope of your project. What do you hope to achieve at the end of your renovation or addition? For some, an open-plan kitchen would suffice, as their only goal is to enjoy a more spacious cooking experience. For others, they would like the entirety of their home to be redone—from the baseboards to the upper levels. If you’re part of the latter group, you might be asking yourself whether a full-scale remodel is preferable to simply starting from scratch? The answer: Renovating is almost always cheaper than building from the ground up. Why? Because the existing structure provides many essentials, such as plumbing, electrical wiring, and support. Now, a renovation isn’t always as straightforward as building from scratch, however. With an existing structure, you’re sure to run into problems whenever you endeavor to make substantial changes. For example, you might be unable to demolish a load-bearing wall or have to design around existing plumbing. With additions, you’ll follow a similar design process to a new build, beginning with concepts and ending with blueprints.
The scope of a project will determine whether it’s necessary to bring on an architectural team. Chances are, during your initial planning phase, you’ll meet with builders, architects, and interior designers. Depending on your specific goals, an interior designer may be better suited to help you realize your vision. However, if you plan on making any structural changes—such as adding a bedroom, opening up a living room, reconfiguring a kitchen—then you wouldn’t immediately consult with a builder. It’s a builder's job to follow plans drafted and approved by an architect. Their work is hands-on and goal-oriented. You set the target and they hit the mark. However, if you have no concrete plans, a builder can do very little to help you. Rather, it is an architect who takes up the initial mantle of determining how your new space will look and feel. Their work is conceptual and detail-oriented. You share a vision and they hone in on the reality. Should you try to create your own plans for a major remodel or addition? Probably not. Since a contractor is not responsible for ill-conceived plans, only the fulfillment of those plans, any mistakes within your design are your responsibility (along with the associated costs). It’s preferable to leave the technical drawings to a professional. After designs are drafted, a builder or contractor can come onboard to offer a quote.
One aspect of understanding the scope of your project is creating a budget. On average, the typical home addition costs between $20,900 and $72,600. Take into account your savings and a home improvement loan to glean a sense of what you’re capable of affording. With a set budget, an architect will be able to give you a set idea of what you’re able to have done. Be sure not to underestimate the total costs of a remodel or addition, as the final price tag is likely to be a bit above whatever you originally anticipated. As well, do not forget to take into account the cost of designs and permits. Before any major renovation or addition, you’ll most likely have to run your plans through your local municipality to ensure all building codes have been followed.
During Designing
When commissioned for major renovations, architects are placed in a position to solve problems present within the current living space. To do this successfully, architects must be creative, prioritizing functionality while also remaining cognizant of spatial restraints. For example, a home might’ve been built in such a way that the interior remains dark for a majority of the day. If, through a renovation, a homeowner seeks copious amounts of natural light, an architect must find a way to add windows to the existing structure such that they’ll allow in plenty of light but will not compromise the structural integrity of the building. Concerns such as natural light, lack of storage, lack of space, poor ventilation, or poor layout can all be addressed through renovation.
It’s important for the architectural firm planning your renovation or addition to have access to the original design plans for your home, especially if they did not originally design your home. While there’s always a chance for surprises occurring during the actual execution of the design plan, a good architect seeks to stay ahead of the unexpected. This includes formulating contingencies to respond to aspects of your home which might not have appeared in its original design. For example, if the contractor who built your home ran out of materials before your home was completed and decided to “wing it,” your home may have structural deficiencies which preclude certain renovations from being completed. Architects can respond to these sorts of design crises by presenting several options for moving forward.
During this stage, it’s an architect's job to think about the big picture. Additions, especially, require a keen awareness of the existing flow of the house. No homeowner wants an addition to stick out or appear out-of-place. Instead, additions should flow seamlessly with the rest of the space.
Pros and Cons
The pros and cons of renovations are much the same as the pros and cons of additions. With both, you’re likely to gain more space in your home (or the feeling of having more space) for a cheaper cost than building a larger house. However, if you plan to live in your home while the renovation is taking place, this can be a noisy, uncomfortable affair. You may have to give up certain creature comforts, such as peace and quiet, for months at a time. However, you will almost certainly increase the resale value of your home and, when renovations are finished, improve your own quality of life! As well, renovating existing spaces is a sustainable practice which conserves natural resources and minimizes the impact of construction on the environment.
We hope you’ll take what we’ve shared here today into account before your next renovation project or addition. While both endeavors may seem daunting, with an experienced architectural team behind you, they’re simple enough to conceive and execute. If you’re interested in learning more about our experience, take a look around our website or reach out to us. For more information on architectural design and building, keep up-to-date with the Architecture Plus blog! If you’re ready to sit down with an experienced team of designers and hash out the elements of your next project, reach out to us! We’re eager to hear from you. Until next time, thank you for reading!