How do add an addition to my house?
TheDudeAbides
| Posted in General Discussion on
How do I go about it? Do I need to talk to an engineer or architect or can I go right to a builder?
Replies
Unless you have some unusual situation, you can go to a builder. If he needs an engineer or architect to help with details, he can always sub them. That said, some builders have better design sense than others, and some know when to call in an engineer and some don't.
As with anything else, it depends on what you want and what you have to work with. If you have a builder you trust (based on seeing prior work and recommendations), and you like the design s/he comes up with, you should be OK. Always get the proper permits and inspections, irrespective of how you decide to do this deal.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Builders usually manage the design on a simple addition around here.
BUT, I've seen nightmares from any of the three.
Sometimes, though, the homeowner can make any of them do a bad job. I watched a lady having one built next to one I was building that made me laugh every day. She'd stand and talk to the guys all durn day, changing things as she rambled on. She hired a roofer to put on a roof on the main house WHILE the addition was being built. She hired some dude off the street to build the block foundation walls without even consulting the builder... those wound up 6" outta square and 2" out of plumb in 16'. After the entire foundation and footing were busted out and she'd paid the bills the builder simply never came back and left her with a real mess and no more budget on her hands.
Hire a good builder, not a low bidder. Be clear about what you want and what the contract reads. Double the money and triple the time allowance on your end. Get out of the way.
Everything else is tough.
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Depends on the builder and his qualifications.
It is always good to start with some plans. Some builders can do that, some only think they can.
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Depends on where you live, too.
If you live in town, there's very likely a Building Code you must adhere to. The process for getting permits will define who you need to hire.
In somae areas, the County & State will also have requirements for any building work performed.
Ok, I just looked, you are in Boston. That means you've probably already either violated a City Development code or have violated a Union rule just by asking <g>
Look under Design-Build in the phone book, and also renovation. Start asking people you know, too.
DieselPig is in or near Boston, right?
I'm thinking his crew might be able to figure out how to frame an addition ...
and side it ... windows / doors ...
probably knows a coupla electricians and plumbers ... drywallers ...
and such.
I'd track down Brian thru this site and see how close he is.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
DieselPig is in or near Boston, right?
Can't remember.
Was more thinking of when ol' Bob Villa removated an entire condo/townhouse and CoB discovered somebody forgot permits, and he had to gut the rehab (they may have been making an example of him; or he was that big a dufus on paperwork, no telling now).
DP far more qualified than a middling famous South Bay plasterer's son for getting such work accomplished, just as a guess on my part. Probably even knows which drawings need wet stamps, too.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Yes, in someplace the zone and archectural rules are a much bigger hurdle than any building code issues..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
When planning my addition I tried to interview several architects. None of them wanted the job. They told me they were too busy with commercial work, which pays better. Even the architect who lives on my block didn't want the job.
I talked to several builders. Several of the builders told me they could do the design, but their designs were no good. Finally found a builder who could do it.
Bottom line - you will likely have to talk to a number of builders before you find someone who is the right fit for you and your project. Good luck.
Edited 2/20/2008 1:40 pm ET by MikeK
As others have said, you can probably go straight to a builder. But in doing so ask to see stuff he's built AND designed...all his own ideas. Some have a poor sense of design (while some have a great sense) and will show you a project that either had a great client or had some design guy that came up with the idea.
Runnerguy
Edited 2/20/2008 5:29 pm ET by runnerguy