Home Additions

Four things matter more than square footage: whether it needs a new foundation, whether it goes up rather than out, how much of the existing house has to be opened and re-framed, and the finish level.

A bump-out extending an existing room is the low end. A second story is the high end, because the existing foundation and framing usually need reinforcing before anything goes on top.

Yes. Any addition that adds square footage requires a building permit, and it is also reviewed against zoning: setbacks, lot coverage and height. A second story brings structural review into it too. Requirements differ between Fort Collins city limits and unincorporated Larimer County.

We handle permitting as part of the project. Be wary of any contractor offering to skip it. Unpermitted square footage causes real problems at resale.

Longer than people expect, and construction is rarely the long part. Design, engineering and permit review typically run for weeks or months before ground is broken.

Once building starts, a single-room addition moves faster than a second story, which involves temporarily opening the roof and carries weather risk.

It is the thing homeowners worry about most, and fairly. A poorly matched addition is obvious from the street forever.

Matching means roof pitch and eave line, siding profile and exposure, window style and proportions, trim details, and how the new roof ties into the old. Weathered siding and older brick rarely match new material exactly, so sometimes a deliberate transition beats a near-miss. We walk the exterior with you before design is final and are direct about which is realistic.

Usually not. Most additions are built onto the exterior and stay sealed off from your living space until the final tie-in.

The exceptions are second stories, where the roof is opened, and projects that connect through a kitchen or the only bathroom. We tell you at the estimate stage if we think you will want to be elsewhere, before you have committed.

A remodel changes space you already have. An addition creates new square footage, which means foundation work, new structure, a permit tied to the larger footprint, and an update to your home's recorded size.

They often happen together. Adding a primary suite is a natural time to remodel the bath or reconfigure the hallway it opens onto, and we do both.

In many cases, yes, but it depends on whether the existing foundation and framing can carry the load. That is a structural engineering question and the first thing we have evaluated. It is also why a pop-top costs more per square foot than adding onto the ground floor.

Either works. We coordinate the design team and structural engineer as part of the project, and we work just as comfortably with an architect you have already hired. Bringing us in early is useful either way, because we can flag what will not build cost-effectively before the drawings are finished.