Important Steps Required When You Get A Structure Addition On Your Home

Structure additions are usually complex, time-consuming, and expensive projects. However, if you love your home, but your family is outgrowing it, an addition could make a difference in your comfort. You might want to add another bedroom, build an upstairs with multiple bedrooms, or add a full addition that gives you more living space. Here are the steps involved with structure additions.

Planning The Project

Planning your addition could take a long time. It is best to get everything right before work begins. You may want to involve a contractor early. This way you can get estimates for various types of structure additions. This also helps to know what you can afford. You may need to arrange financing, so you want to obtain a loan and have the funds available. It's a good idea to have everything planned out down to the smallest details so you don't have to make last-minute changes.

You'll need help from an architect too. Once you've settled on your plans, the architect can draw up blueprints to submit to the city for a permit. Once the permit is approved, the contractor follows the blueprints to build your structure addition. Once work starts, it may take weeks to complete. You may need to make plans to stay elsewhere until the job is finished.

Have The Survey Completed

A survey is an important part of building an addition to your home. The location of the addition has to be submitted to the city for approval before they approve the permit. A survey indicates if your addition is on your property and within the setback area while not on any easements. Plus, the addition needs to be away from your well or septic tank if you have them. A survey ensures your addition will be built in the proper place on your lot and not run into problems with neighbors. It can eliminate code violations.

Undergo Periodic Inspections

When you obtain a permit from the city, it has to be closed to be valid. Before it can be closed, your structure addition needs an inspection at certain intervals. All work on the addition is built according to codes. A city inspector checks plumbing and electricity to make sure the subcontractors complete their part of the project according to the code.

They'll also inspect the building, roof, and other parts of the structure to make sure your new addition is code compliant and safe for your family. If a problem is found during an inspection, the contractor makes the necessary changes so your building addition will pass and the permit can be added to your property record. 

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