Last updated on July 28th, 2023 at 08:36 am
Whether your growing child needs their personal space, or you want to accommodate your aging parent, or you simply want to create a sanctuary for your guests, making an extra bedroom within your home is a better and less stressful idea than moving house. One great advantage is that it increases your home value as buyers tend to spend more money on houses with more bedrooms. Here are a few tips on how to make an extra bedroom in your house:
1. Divide a Large Room
Dividing an already existing room is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to create an extra bedroom. If you have a large living room or bedroom, you can divide it to create an extra bedroom by building a wall or installing a sliding door to separate the two. If the room has an exceptionally high ceiling, you can make use of the idle vertical space by installing a mezzanine floor.
2. Build an Extension Sideways
You have the option of building a bedroom extension on the side or back of your house depending on where you’d like it and the amount of space you have. The downside to this would be killing the space in your garden. Also, you’ll spend a lot of money as you may have to hire contractors so that the structure is up to standard. Remember, the new structure should not obstruct daylight from beaming into the home.
3. Build an Extension Upwards
Adding a second story to your house will provide the space you need for a big comfortable bedroom. However, you may need to move out of the house for a few days depending on what the contractors advise. One option would be to have the extra room built separately. Then have contractors lift your roof off temporarily. After the room is built, they can put it back on.
4. Build a Bedroom over a Garage
Whether you have a single or double garage, the space above it is sufficient for a comfortable bedroom. The advantage of this is that you won’t be using up any garden or compound space. A qualified contractor must dig the foundation of the garage to confirm that it’s sturdy enough to carry the weight of the new structure. You must also make considerations for a staircase to access the new bedroom.
5. Convert a Room (Garage, Attic, Basement, Loft)
If your basement, attic or garage is simply storing useless clutter and gathering dust, you might want to make better use of the space for an extra bedroom. A garage is perfect for an elderly parent as it doesn’t require stairs and is accessible by wheelchair. Converting a basement will require insulation to keep it warm and layers of lighting to brighten it, but it will be all worth it.
Do I Need Planning Permission to Make an Extra Bedroom?
If you’re simply turning your garage or basement into a bedroom, you won’t need planning permission. However, if you’re adding a new structure to your house to create an extra bedroom, you may need a building permit or planning permission. This permit/permission will depend on where you live in the world and the laws governing your region.
For example in Los Angeles, you don’t need a permit if your additional bedroom is about 120 sq. ft. or less with a roof height of 12 ft. or less. Any structure bigger than that will require a building permit that expires after 180 days (about 6 months) from the issue date. If the validity period passes before you start on the additional structure, you’ll have to apply for a new permit.
In the UK, you won’t need planning permission for an additional room that is a single-story and stretches anything less than eight meters starting from your house’s rear wall. The safest way to go about it is to consult your local council because laws change and each case may be treated differently.
How Much Does an Extra Bedroom Add to Your House?
Renovating your home is a sure-fire way of increasing its value. When serious buyers are looking for a home, one of the factors they use to determine its value is the number of bedrooms. The more bedrooms there are, the more money your house is worth.
Although adding bedrooms to your house is an expensive project, it’s a worthy investment as one extra bedroom adds to your house’s resale value about $30,000 to $50,000. The exact figure depends on the location of the house, its livability, and its functionality.
How Can I Add a Bedroom to My House for Cheap?
A sunroom is the cheapest way to add a bedroom to your house. It costs less to set up as it’s typically made of windows or sliding glass doors which are way cheaper than solid concrete or hardwood walls. Also, you won’t need a contractor because several manufacturers provide a DIY sunroom kit with detailed instructions, allowing you to set it up without expensive professional help.
Another way to add a bedroom to your house for cheap is by finishing off your garage. The advantage is that it already has a roof, walls, wiring, and foundation so you won’t be spending money there. However, you will need insulation and an extension of the cooling and heating system. You’ll also need carpeting, sliding doors, and a decent-sized window for daylight.
How Can I Extend My House Cheaply?
You might want to increase the value of your house before selling it, or maybe you want to create more room for your growing family. Either way, extending a house is a huge project which can cost lots of money but not everyone has a big budget. When your cash is tight, you might get anxious thinking about an extension project. The good news is that you can do it cheaply using these tips:
1. Plan the Details in Advance
Planning well in advance for anything is always a good idea, especially if it involves spending money. When it comes to your house extension, you must have all the details down to a t. It helps to find prices of all the fittings, floorings, and accessories you need so you can compare with various suppliers for the best bargain. The last thing you want to experience is last-minute expensive purchases that you could have got cheaper if you had planned early.
2. Extend Your House During Dry Months
When the weather is bad (rain, wind, thunderstorms), it’s a bad time for a house extension project. The project will take longer meaning you’ll pay more money in labor costs. Also, if you had moved out to rent elsewhere during the extension, you’ll spend more money on accommodation. The rain and wind could damage the materials or wreck all the work done. The best time for this project would be during the dry months.
3. Use a Simple Design Plan
The simpler the design plan, the cheaper your extension project will be. Dreamy and elaborate designs are chic and sophisticated but who said simple designs can’t be beautiful? A basic square or rectangular shape extension will be cheaper than one with curves and intricate details. Spend less on a simple design plan that has less complicated details and requires easily accessible materials.
4. Manage the Project Yourself
A contractor will charge you an extra 15% to 25% of the overall charge of material and labor for their time spent managing the extension project. You’ll save that chunk of money by managing the project yourself. You’ll have to work with the architect/designer and the building department officials in your area. You’ll also be in charge of hiring workers, supervising them and providing the building materials. It’s a lot of work with a lot of savings involved.
5. Buy Used Materials
Buying new materials is great if you can afford it, but if you’re looking to save some money, used materials can do the job too. Sometimes you’ll find a second-hand building material that’s still in great working condition. You can find them at salvage yards and on the internet. Some of the cheap, used building materials that offer great value include bricks, roof tiles, floorboards, doors, and fireplaces.
6. Find Great Trade Deals
Do some research and find the wholesale sources of all these materials so that you can get the same prices as the traders. Ask for a discount – sometimes paying in cash earns you a discount. You must get an acknowledgment of sale (receipt). If possible, buy your items in bulk from one supplier and request another discount. Find out whether the large purchase comes with free or low-cost delivery. You may not get the popular brand names, but make sure you’re getting good quality.
7. Stay on Site during the Project
Your ability to stay on site during the extension process will depend on how complex the extension project will be. For example, if you’re extending upwards, you may have to move out because the roof will go off. If you’re extending sideways, it may not be much of a problem. Either way, to save on accommodation costs elsewhere, if you can, stay on site. If not, find a friend or relative nearby who can accommodate you on favorable terms.
How Much Would A 20×20 Room Addition Cost?
There’s no one price fits all when it comes to creating a 20×20 room addition. Various factors are at play and they are different for each home. Home Advisor (a digital platform that connects homeowners with local home improvement professionals) says that a 20×20 room addition costs homeowners between $32,000 and $80,000.
The difference in cost will depend on whether you want a basic or luxurious room, the types, and sizes of elements you want in the room, the type of materials being used, the site conditions, location of the home, and so on. A qualified contractor would be in the best position to give you an accurate quote after assessing all factors.
How Much Does It Cost to Add A 10×10 Room?
The average cost of a 10×10 additional room is $20,000. However, the type of room you add will determine the actual cost. An additional bedroom will not cost the same as a mudroom, family room, living room, kitchen, laundry, or bathroom.
Components like cabinets, flooring, closets, plumbing, and others will affect how much cheaper or more expensive than its average cost the room will be. Some of the activities that will affect the cost of your extra room include painting and finishing, insulation, flooring, plumbing, electrical, framing, and others.
Is It Cheaper to Build Up or Out?
The answer for this is not clear-cut and depends on various factors. Generally, building up is considered cheaper than building out when it comes to extending a home. Building out is a popular option however one of the reasons it’s considered more expensive is that it requires more material and labor. Excavation, concrete, roof system are all things you may not require if you decide to build up.
Building up might become expensive if you have to book accommodation outside the home while you wait for the builders to finish the project. The amount of money you would have paid by the end of the project would be substantial and if the work delays for whatever reason, even more money spent. While building out, you may not need to move out.
Another factor would be the strength of your house’s foundation. Your contractor must check if the foundation is firm and enough to hold the weight of an additional structure. If they find that it’s not strong enough, they’ll have to reinforce it by retrofitting. This will require you to spend more money on excavation, removing walls, and replacing them.
With all conditions perfect, building up would be a cheaper option because you won’t need a foundation and a lot of other things that you would use if you were breaking out.