What To Do (and Avoid) Before Starting a Portland Home Addition

If you need more space in your Portland home but love your location, a home addition may be the perfect solution — but only if it’s been well thought out and carefully executed. Here are four ideas to consider before drawing up your blueprints: 

Reconfigure the Roof

Adding to the side of your home? Make sure your addition’s roof matches the pitch and angle of your existing roofline. The goal is to get more space, but have it look natural, like it was always there. If the rooflines are inconsistent, your new addition will look awkward and unbalanced. 

Deal with Drainage

Drainage is an important consideration when adding to your home and neglecting this step could lead to costly water damage. When your addition is complete, rain and snow will runoff differently than before, and your system may need to be adjusted. Ask your architect or designer about how they’ll prevent leaks and drainage damage in both the new and existing sections of your home.

Sidestep Scope Creep 

Qualified, honest remodelers start with a fairly accurate estimated cost — but that number can change. Scope creep is the way a project grows after the work has started, leading to significant increases in time and cost. Scope creep often happens when homeowners add a few seemingly small extra projects here and there, or when the remodeler doesn’t account for everything needed to make an addition seamless. 

Here’s a common scenario: a builder quotes a price based on previous experience, using typical materials. As they get into the project, the homeowner realizes the budget includes builder-grade materials, rather than the same expensive hardwood/countertop/woodworking technique found in the rest of the home. The only way to keep the look cohesive is to raise the price. 

In addition, some remodelers are surprised by issues with plumbing, permits, or electrical capabilities. Due diligence matters here, and a feasibility study, done through your local municipality, can help identify issues before construction begins. 

Talk to Tradespeople 

Consult the experts to make sure everything gets done correctly. Many design-build firms, like Creekstone Design + Build, neatly package these professionals, so you don’t have to source and select them. If you’re managing your home addition alone, you’ll need an:

• Inspector
• Plumber
• HVAC Professional
• Electrician

These pros will ensure your existing setup can handle the extra space and that anything new is up to code. 

Home additions are a great solution if you don’t want to move, but could lead to more problems if not done correctly. In the end, hiring a design-build firm like Creekstone will make the process simple and stress-free, so all you’ll need to worry about is furniture shopping for your new space!

Have questions about home additions? Contact us — we’re happy to help.