Adding room additions to homes are exciting home improvement projects that can increase the space, value, and enjoyment of any house.

Unless room addition projects are properly planned out, those modifications can create new problems while solving others.

Adding rooms to an existing residence does not end with just those rooms themselves.

Home addition contractors stress that homeowners must also consider these space-related issues as well as some other concerns that can come up during an addition project.

Knowing the possibilities ahead of time, unpleasant surprises can be minimized.

1. Plumbing System Overload

If room addition plans include adding bedrooms for more family members, remodeling a bathroom, or adding a new bathroom, it is essential that the existing plumbing system be inspected first to ensure it can handle the added load.

Plumbers should first assess the drainage, sewer, and plumbing fixtures to ensure that more use can be supported before room addition contractors start the project.

If not, homeowners should discuss how to handle the issue of preventing plumbing system overloads with their contractors before starting an addition, as upgrading the plumbing could add considerable costs to the project.

2. HVAC Efficiency Issues

Like the plumbing issue, room additions to homes can also put added strain on the heating and cooling systems or cause a situation where parts of the home with its new layout become difficult to keep comfortable.

Re-planning the HVAC, adding in new vents, and upgrading the whole system may be required to ensure the whole house can still be kept warm or cool with the greatest efficiency.

3. Structural Problems

Depending on where the addition will be place in the house, structural issues such as foundation stress and roofing issues can occur.

Therefore, planning for any kind of room additions must include a thorough assessment of the structural integrity of the entire house, with modifications and increased structural support being made as part of the construction project.

4. Building Code Concerns

A potentially serious concern that many owners of older houses may not realize can affect their addition plans is finding out from a building inspector when applying for a building permit that their house is no longer compliant with the local building codes.

Normally, if the home remains untouched, there is no demand to upgrade it; however, once a room addition contractor begins work, the entire house may require updating in the area where it no longer complies with local building code.

This could be related to the electrical system, the sewer and/or plumbing, home ventilation, structural specifications, and more.

5. Building Materials Hazards

Another issue similar to that of the building code concern is doing room additions in homes that are older and still contain hazardous building materials like asbestos, lead, and others that have since been declared health hazards.

If a pre-construction inspection reveals these materials are still in the home, removing them at great cost may become necessary.

Have A Contractor Assess Things First

Room additions and other modifications can turn any house into a more comfortable home with good planning; however, getting room additions to homes successfully completed could involve more than expected.

The first step for beginning any type of home expansion project is to plan it out with an experienced home addition contractor who understands the potential issues that can arise, and what to do about them.

It is better to know ahead of time what extra repairs a building addition contractor may need to do during a room addition project than to be surprised after the work has begun.