Home Addition Questions, Answered

Start with what the house is not doing for you, not with a floor plan. Write down what frustrates you and what you want the new space for. Then a feasibility conversation looks at the lot, the zoning, the structure and a realistic budget range before anyone draws plans.

No. Most people contact us with an idea or a problem. Design comes after feasibility, once we know what the lot and the house allow.

Zoning setbacks, lot coverage limits, height limits and easements define where you can build. We check them for your address. Some cities also count driveways and patios toward coverage, which can matter more than setbacks.

Not every house, and not without work. Footings, framing, bracing for earthquakes and wind, and room for a stair all decide it. An engineer's early look tells you whether it is realistic and what reinforcement is involved.

That is the goal of every design. Roof pitch, overhangs, brick or siding, window proportions and trim are matched or deliberately complemented, and inside, floor levels, flooring and ceilings are planned to carry through.

Not legally for a single-family home in Utah, where plans for one- and two-family dwellings are exempt from architect licensure. Many additions are designed by a residential designer or design-build team, with a structural engineer handling the structure where needed.

Because additions of the same size can differ widely in cost depending on foundation, roof, structure, room types and finishes. A published range would mislead more people than it helps. We explain the cost drivers and build a realistic range for your house after feasibility.

Settle scope, structure and selections before construction, keep the roof and footprint simple, place bathrooms and kitchens near existing plumbing, set realistic allowances, and keep a contingency for conditions hidden in the existing house.

We handle the permit process as part of the project, including drawings, engineering coordination, submittals, responding to plan review comments and scheduling inspections. Each city in Davis County runs its own process.

Planning, design, engineering and permit review often take as long as construction. The schedule depends on scope, city review times, engineering and material lead times. We give you a schedule for your project once feasibility is complete.

Usually, for additions built out from the house. The hardest stretch is opening the wall into the existing rooms. Second stories and projects that affect the only bathroom or kitchen need more planning, and sometimes a short time away.

We stop and explain it before it becomes a cost: what was found, the options, and how each affects budget and schedule. Planning reduces surprises, but existing houses can still hide rot, old wiring or framing that differs from expectations.

Sometimes. Cities regulate accessory dwelling units and second kitchens differently. Bountiful, for example, permits internal accessory dwelling units and allows a second kitchen in a single-family home only with a recorded deed restriction. We check the rules for your city.

Yes, in nearby Davis County cities including North Salt Lake, Woods Cross, Centerville, Farmington, Kaysville and Layton. If your home is elsewhere in the county, ask.

No. We focus on additions. Where an addition connects to existing rooms, we do the remodeling needed to make old and new work together, but we do not take on stand-alone remodels.

We read what you send and follow up to ask a few questions about the house and your goals. Then we look at feasibility together. If an addition does not make sense for your house, we will tell you plainly.