“Our friends told us their addition cost $200 per square foot.” “We just want a simple addition.” “My cousin Jim says he can build an addition for a third of what a contractor charges.” And one of the most popular: “They did an addition on HGTV that only cost $20,000.”
It’s easy to see why so many misconceptions exist on how much a home addition will cost. Our short answer to this frequent question? Anywhere from $250 to $600 per square foot. Which leads a lot of customers to ask “What? I thought it would be way less!”
Details, Details, Details
Remodeling Magazine’s latest figures show a mid-range bathroom addition in the Greater St. Louis area averaging just over $45,000, and a master suite addition costing somewhere in the vicinity of $124,000.
No matter what type or size home addition you have in mind, taking on such a big project can cause a lot of budget-related anxiety if you don’t know how to prepare. At J.T. McDermott Remodeling, we understand those concerns and do our best to ease any worries right from our first meeting.
Here’s the truth: the cost of your home addition will vary depending on the scope of the project. While the size of the addition matters, it’s the details that go into it that matter most. Your budget will also be affected by how the existing space is affected by the projected work. Here are just some of the features that can have an impact:
- Excavation, demolition, and site prep costs.
- Pouring concrete footings and a slab foundation.
- Adding support beams and roof trusses.
- A new roof for the added section.
- New doors and windows.
- Tying into the existing HVAC system.
- Landscaping.
Our Home Addition Process
From initial consultation to final walk-through, all our design-build work follows a process that ensures your peace of mind and protects your bottom line.
To get started, we first talk to you about your addition requirements, your family’s needs, and your hoped-for budget. If you tell us you want a two-story addition with a kitchen and master suite, we try, based on our years of experience, to let you know if the budget you have in mind is feasible. We firmly believe that knowing upfront what you can and can’t afford will avoid wasting time and resources down the road.
Planning: Earlier is Better
Putting together a home addition budget takes some time, so the sooner you get started, the better off you’ll be. Our initial consultation is designed to be a great time saver, helping you avoid spending weeks or months dreaming about a design that ultimately doesn’t make financial sense. We firmly believe that staying realistic about what you can achieve makes the entire process a much more enjoyable one!
Scope of Work
It makes sense that an addition that includes exclusive materials, premium fixtures, or extensive electrical and plumbing work will come in at a higher budget. Hard costs like labor, materials, and fixtures and soft costs like fees vary from job and job, which is why an estimate per square foot rarely gives an accurate estimate of your particular costs. Fortunately, experience has taught us how to accurately estimate most home addition costs. This means the final proposal you receive from us is based on realistic expectations, not guesswork.
Learn More
A home addition is a complex project with a considerable financial investment. The more informed decisions you can make from the beginning of the process, the more likely you are to keep the project on track and budget.
Masterful craftsmanship, the highest-quality materials, and timeless design shape every home addition we do. At J.T. McDermott, our mission is to fulfill the unique remodeling wishes of each client. To learn more about how we can help you build the home addition you have in mind, schedule a conversation with us today. We look forward to meeting with you!
