Your Building Blog for the Rochester Area

Does your Rochester-area home need a bit of a facelift and reorganization that a conventional remodeling project can bring—or are you actually in need of an addition? The answer depends on your changing needs. Sometimes “re-engineering the existing space will deliver the results you need. Sometimes, there just is no substitute for more physical space. Let’s take a look at when to consider adding an addition to your Rochester home.

Your Family is Growing

If you’re a younger family, a two-bedroom house may have been more than adequate before you had kids—or when you only had one. What if you are planning on another child? If your existing home doesn’t have the place or the space to accommodate a third bedroom or nursery, you may want to think about adding a nursery or a bedroom. If you’re thinking about adding a room upstairs, you’ll want to ask yourself if it makes sense to simply add one bedroom, or if it’s more financially responsible to add a whole second floor that could give you a fourth bedroom (or home office or craft room) and a bathroom. Material and labor costs are never going to be lower than they are now, so it can actually be cheaper (in the long run) to go a bit bigger now.

Adult Family Members Are Joining You

Multi-generational homes have been a growing trend for some time. If you have older family members who may be living with you in the future, it’s not enough to just clear out a spare bedroom. You may want to create a space with more privacy—such as an In-Law apartment. Questions you'll want to consider are if this separate living space will have its own entrance, kitchen, and bathrooms to provide privacy. It's not just older relatives that you need to think about. Increasing numbers of families are providing additional living space for their adult children—until they get their careers going and are ready to strike out on their own (and own their own homes).

You Need Play Space for the Kids (or Yourself)

There are times when your sleeping space is adequate, but there is no place to go to play or to work on a project. You might want to think about adding a playroom or a craft room that doesn’t have to be picked up every time guests come over. If that’s something that could help, you’ll also want to think ahead about how the room could be used five or 10 years from now, so keep your options open.

You Need Space for “Show Time”

A lot of families have taken to consuming media at home. Many homes, however, don’t have a space that they can dedicate to streaming movies, listening to music, gaming, or engaging in social media. But before you create your own media room, you'll want to think about how you're going to use it. What are the wiring requirements? What kind of lighting will you want/need? Do you want to build in a snack bar to enhance the atmosphere? Here's one additional thing to think about. Up to this point, homeowners have tended to design their media rooms around the TV—and TVs have gotten increasingly larger. What impact will Virtual Reality (VR) have on the media rooms of tomorrow? You may not need space for a humongous screen if you're wearing a pair of VR goggles that make the whole room your screen!

Your Current Layout Doesn’t Allow You to Entertain

Over the past 25 years or so, kitchens have become central for home entertainment. Guests gather in the kitchen to snack, drink, talk, and just hang out. Depending on how you entertain, you may require a lot more kitchen space than you have. Depending on how your home was designed, you may or may not be able to expand your kitchen’s footprint adequately. You may require an addition to provide the kind of space you want/need. But before you launch into adding a new kitchen, you'll want to pay attention to your "kitchen personality." How will you use your new kitchen space? Are you intending to do a lot more cooking (maybe even gourmet cooking)? Are you planning to eat most family meals in the kitchen? Will this space be primarily used for basic meal preparation and as a comfortable place for casual entertaining? How you plan to use the space should influence the kind of room you design.

If your family is in need of more living space, a home addition is your best option. Why not stay in the home that you love and allow our team to create the additional rooms that you need to make your family more comfortable. Still not sure if an addition is right for you? Our experienced team can help answer all of your questions about our process, design, and cost. Schedule your free home remodeling consultation now!

You may tend to think of home additions in terms of rooms that exist inside your house. But increasingly homeowners are adding living spaces to the outside of their homes as well. Not only do exterior home additions add living space, but they also expand the kinds of activities you can enjoy. Here’s a look at some of the exterior home additions that can help you get even more enjoyment out of your Rochester-area home.

Put on a Deck

Putting on a deck is one of the most popular external additions you can make to your home. It extends your casual living and dining space dramatically. It’s a great place to have casual meals with the family in warm weather months. And it’s also the perfect place for hanging out with friends on summer evenings or on the weekends. You can choose to build in seating or simply arrange outdoor furniture wherever you want. You can make part of the deck covered (as shown in the picture here). Or you can build a pergola over the deck to let in some light while still blocking out harsh sunlight. If you’re curious about the costs of adding a deck, you can click here to download the 2019 Cost vs. Value Report for the Rochester area to give you a baseline figure.

Add a Porch

When it comes to enjoying indoor/outdoor living some homeowners prefer a screened porch. It provides a cozier environment (it feels more like a room)—plus the screens help cut breezes and obviously keep mosquitoes and other bugs out. In addition to that, because a porch is covered, you can even enjoy sitting outside in the rain—without getting wet.

Add a Patio

You may enjoy actually being out in the yard in the summer. When you add a patio, you can make it extremely comfortable—and still be out and away from the house. You can build your patio on gravel, flagstones, or cement—whichever best suits your sense of style. You can make it really rustic, or elegant, depending on your personal taste. Adding a fire pit or a fireplace also adds a warm (and even romantic) touch. Plus, you can landscape around your patio to make it a beautiful little oasis right in your backyard. If you’re wondering what furniture to include on your patio Family Living Today has a review of the Best Patio Furniture Sets & Pieces for 2019. 

Include an Outdoor Kitchen

Including an outdoor kitchen as part of your external addition has become a growing trend. It takes outdoor entertaining to a whole new level. Now the barbeque chef doesn't have to be separated from his or her guests. You can make your outdoor kitchen as simple or as extensive as you want. Build in amenities such as a built-in grill with counter space, or even a mini-bar with refrigerator and sink. If you want, you can also build in eating space around the kitchen (as shown here) so that you can cook while engaging with guests and serving drinks at the same time. Of course, you'll want to make sure you install the right grill. The good folks at BBQGuys have published their list of the best BBQ grills and outdoor appliances for 2019 to make your choice a bit easier.

Create a Craft or Hobby Room

If you have a detached garage, you can use it for much more than simply parking your car or storing Christmas decorations. You may be able to add onto your garage and turn it into a craft or hobby room. Putting a second story on your garage can create great space for a craft room, an artist studio, or even a music studio. Another option might be to turn that upper room into an in-law apartment or another bedroom if you have an older child who wants more private space. You don’t have to go up to add on. You may be able to expand the space outward to build a woodworking shop or a pottery studio.

 

If you've been looking for ways to expand your outdoor living space, an exterior home addition is the way to go. Do you have questions about remodeling the exterior of your home? Schedule a free home remodeling consultation where we can answer all of your questions about the process, design, and cost.

When you’re considering an upgrade to your Rochester-area home, a small change can sometimes give you all you need. There are times, however, when a small change just isn’t enough. And while a home renovation can help you get the most out of the available space you have, sometimes you simply need more space. That’s when a home addition actually makes the most sense. What can you expect to spend to make that kind of improvement? Here’s a look at 2019 Costs for home additions in Rochester.

Let’s look at some of the costs for a few of the more common home additions as compiled in the Remodeling 2019 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com). First, we'll provide a brief description of what's included in the project and then we'll follow with the cost you can expect to pay in the Rochester area.

Midrange Bathroom Addition

A midrange bathroom addition assumes adding a 6x8-foot bathroom over a crawlspace with poured concrete walls. Materials used would be a cultured-stone vanity top with molded sink; standard chrome faucets; a 30x60-inch white fiberglass tub/shower with ceramic tile surround; a single-lever temperature and pressure-balanced faucet; a white low-profile toilet; general and spotlighting; electrical wiring to code; a mirrored medicine cabinet; a  linen storage closet or cabinet; painted trim; and a ceramic tile floor.

Job Cost: $47,397 with an expected recouped of approximately 46% of your cost when you sell.

Upscale Bathroom Addition

For an upscale bathroom addition, the assumptions would be adding a new 100-square-foot master bath to an existing master bedroom over a crawlspace. It would also include a 42x42-inch neo-angle shower with ceramic tile walls and an accent strip; a recessed shower caddy; body-spray fixtures; and a frameless glass enclosure. It would include installation of a freestanding soaker tub with high-end faucets; a stone countertop with two sinks; two mirrored medicine cabinets with lighting; a compartmentalized commode area with one-piece toilet; and a humidistat-controlled exhaust fan. It assumes the use of larger matching ceramic tiles on the floor, laid on diagonal with ceramic tile base molding. General and spotlighting plus waterproof shower fixture would also be included. Cabinetry would include a custom drawer base and wall cabinets. The project would also assume extending HVAC access and installation of electric in-floor heating.

Job Cost: $87,740 with an expected recouped of approximately 46% of your cost when you sell.

Midrange Master Suite Addition

A midrange Master Suite addition would call for adding a 24x16-foot master bedroom suite over a crawlspace. Features would include a walk-in closet/dressing area; a freestanding soaker tub; a separate 3x4-foot ceramic tile shower; and double-bowl vanity with a solid-surface countertop. The floor of the bedroom would be carpeted. Tile would be installed in the bath. All walls, ceiling, and trim would be painted. Installation of general and spot lighting, and an exhaust fam are also included.

Job Cost: $131,210 with an expected recouped of approximately 58% of your cost when you sell.

Upscale Master Suite Addition

The assumptions for an upscale Master Suite addition include adding a 32x20-foot Master Bedroom Suite over a crawlspace. That would include a spacious sleeping area with lounging/sitting area adjacent to a large master bath. That space would include custom bookcases and built-in storage with millwork details; a high-end gas fireplace with stone hearth and custom mantle; and walk-in closet/dressing area with natural light, mirrors, and linen storage. It assumes the installation of French doors as well. The bathroom will include a walk-in shower with a dual-shower system; stone walls and floor; and a custom frameless glass enclosure. A freestanding soaker tub will also be installed. The bathroom also Includes two sinks in separate custom vanities with stone countertops and large mirrors. The builder will create a partitioned area for a luxury one-piece toilet. Outside the bath expect the installation of a 5-foot-long hospitality center with bar sink; under-counter refrigerator; custom cabinetry; stone countertop; and microwave. The project includes soundproofing; in-floor heating; custom wall finishes and hardware;  general and spotlighting; and high-end lighting controls.

Job Cost: $272,151 with an expected recouped of approximately 44% of your cost when you sell.

Composite Deck Addition/Wood Deck Addition

This project includes the building of a 16x20-foot deck using pressure-treated joists supported by 4x4-inch posts anchored to concrete piers. Then composite deck material will be installed in a simple linear pattern. That will include a built-in bench and a planter of the same decking material. The deck includes stairs and assumes three steps to grade. The deck will also have a complete railing using a matching system made of the same composite as the decking material. The specifications/assumptions for a wood deck are identical except that the finish material would be wood instead of composite material.

Job Cost (Composite): $18,920 with an expected recouped of approximately 54% of your cost when you sell.

Job Cost (Wood): $13,227 with an expected recouped of approximately 63% of your cost when you sell.

Backyard Patio

This addition includes the Installation of a 20x20-foot flagstone patio on flat ground behind the home. The house and patio will be connected via a lift-and-slide glass door. A gas-powered fire pit will be installed in the center of the patio and surrounded by four mid-priced, all-weather deck chairs. Opposite the home, a stone-veneer modular kitchen unit will be installed that comes with a gas grill, a mini-refrigerator, a sink, and storage. On each corner, the builder will erect a 20x20-foot cedar pergola capable of holding an awning that can shade the flagstone area. Mid-priced, low-voltage lights will be installed on the pergola to illuminate the patio at night. The project assumes Installation of underground gas and electrical connections.

Job Cost: $56,681 with an expected recouped of approximately 46% of your cost when you sell.

 

Keep in mind that the costs here are representative figures. The exact size of the project, the complexity, and the materials used can all impact the final cost. But these figures at least provide a benchmark to help you begin planning. 

What About Your Kitchen?

Your kitchen may well be the most-used room in your home. Perhaps the most common request Rochester homeowners have is to expand the size of their kitchen to better accommodate their needs for family use—and for entertaining. Sometimes that can be accomplished by redesigning existing space. In other cases, an addition may be required to deliver the space required. Wil the 2019 Cost vs Value Report doesn’t include figures for this specific kind of addition, we can help you calculate your costs. And if you're looking for an idea, you can download our free Creating the Ideal Kitchen ebook.

If your family is growing, building an addition is a great solution for providing much needed living space in your home without the hassle of moving. You can learn more about our process by scheduling a free home remodeling consultation now!

Sometimes a remodeling of your Rochester-area home involves a bit of a cosmetic “face-lift.” Perhaps you want to make your family room a little brighter. Or you may decide to reorganize your kitchen so that it’s more efficient. Maybe you want to take advantage of unused space in your basement or attic to give your family more living space. There are times, however, when remodeling is more than just freshening up your home. We’d like to walk you through a recent remodeling project we worked on in 2018 that started (literally) from the ground up.

Clearing the Way

To be honest, before we could do anything else, we had to remove the existing home in order to begin construction on the new home. That meant not only demolishing the old home, but also removing the existing foundation.

 

 

Setting a Firm Foundation

Because the home was a complete redesign, we started with a brand new foundation. As you can see, there's more involved than just digging a hole and pouring concrete. It takes a bit more time, but it's the right way to do it!

 

 

Focus on Framing

Here’s where it actually starts looking like we’re building a house! What you don’t see in this image is the insulation and siding that help make this an energy- efficient home. We take energy-efficiency seriously in the way we build—and in keeping our clients aware of new developments.

 

The Not-So-Sexy Stuff

Some of the most critical parts of the building/remodeling process involve things that aren’t all that sexy at first glance. Who really gets excited about ductwork and HVAC systems? Actually, we do, because they play a huge role in making sure that your new home is comfortable (without costing you a fortune in utility payments).

 

Homeowner Involvement

We know how important it is for you to be involved in something as personal and critical as your home. That’s why we keep you in the loop during the process. We even have some suggestions on how you can be effectively involved in what’s going on.

 

 

Finishing Well

Choosing the right finishes is an important part of the process. That includes selecting things such as cabinets and flooring. It’s also fun and exciting to see an important room such as the kitchen taking shape before your eyes. Because the kitchen is so important, you’ll want to make sure you take the time to research and plan the ideal kitchen before you begin construction. Click here for a great resource that can help you do that.

Exterior Touches

While things are taking shape inside the home, there are still exterior touches that are being added. Pouring concrete and adding stone finishes help add that touch of substance and make your home look “finished.”

 

 

Move-in Ready

Finally! After a lot of preparation, heavy lifting, and times when progress seemed slow (even though it was necessary), you're ready to move into your newly finished—and beautiful home.

 

 

Good News! It Won’t Always Look Like a War Zone!

There are a lot of elements that go into the process of remodeling or building a new home. There may be times when you come out to look at the project and it will look more like a war zone than a home. That’s a normal part of the process. The good news is that it won’t always look that way—and we think you’ll be delighted with the finished product!

By way of proof, here’s a look at some of the finished rooms from this house we’ve been talking about.

Here’s the finished Great Room.

It looks a lot different with all the finishes completed and the fixtures in place. Imagine what it will look like with rugs, furniture, and people!

 

 

 

 

Here’s the Kitchen.

It may not have looked all that inviting before all the cabinets where in place and the hardware had been put on. But with those things completed, new flooring in place, and great lighting, it’s a warm and welcoming space! Look at how bright and open it is.

 

 

 

The Inside Even Looks Good From the Outside.

Here’s another look at the kitchen through the patio door. A beautiful exterior gives way to a glowing interior that invites family and friends inside!

This is when you look back and realize you're glad that you took the time to plan ahead. And you’re also glad you worked with a trusted builder/remodeler who took your wishes, ideas, and dreams and helped you achieve them!

 

 

There are a lot of phases of the building/remodeling process that we didn’t cover. And we just scratched the surface of what we did talk about. We offer helpful resources to answer your questions whether you're planning a kitchen remodel, a bathroom remodel or a whole home renovation. We’d love to help you through the process so that you can enjoy the home of your dreams!

Every year industry experts talk about the newest trends in the remodeling industry. You’ll hear about these trends on home improvement sites such as houzz.com or on remodeling shows on television. A lot of what you’ll hear or read tends to focus on interior design: What are the “hot” colors this year? What kinds of backsplash materials are “in?” Which hardware finishes are most popular?  Those are all interesting and important items to consider, but which remodeling trends matter most for your Rochester home?

I’d like to suggest that real remodeling trends—ones that have staying power—focus more on functionality and changes that come about in response to homeowners’ changing lifestyles.  Let’s look at a few of these kinds of remodeling trends in some key areas of your Rochester home.

Kitchen Trends

Kitchens have changed dramatically over the years. They’re no longer simply spaces for food preparation. These days, people use them for entertaining, cooking, casual dining, and even family meetings. While color changes and finishes may constantly change, one trend that seems to have great staying power is the use of kitchen islands as a major feature in kitchens because they lend themselves to multiple uses. Take a look at some of the kitchen projects we’ve worked on recently.

Bathroom Trends

Bathrooms are kind of a big deal in today’s homes. There’s a good reason for that. This is a room you use multiple times a day. It’s where you get ready to meet the challenges of the day and it’s also a place you relax at the end of the day. A couple of trends in bathrooms have been to make them more comfortable and functional. That means dual sinks and more space for getting ready in the morning. And when it comes to comfort, many homeowners have replaced old conventional tubs (and even whirlpools) with elegant soaking tubs and spacious showers that enhance relaxation. Here’s a look at some of the things you’ll want to consider as you plan your bathroom remodel.

Interior Trends

Even though open floor plans have been around for a few years they continue to be a popular trend. It’s a way to bring more natural light into your home and it also gives the inside of your home a more spacious feel. Often homeowners choose to repurpose existing rooms to meet their changing needs for things such as a home office, a guest bedroom, or a multi-purpose family room/entertainment room. You can even finish out your basement or convert your garage into extra living space.

Addition Trends

There are also trends in home additions that are worth noting. There has been an increase in the number of multi-generational households over the past few years. Often that requires adding physical space that can be used as an in-law apartment (which can be used for older parents moving in, or for adult children who are still working on getting started in their own careers).  Click here for some inspirational images of how you can add beautiful—and needed—space to your existing home.

 

 

 

There are times when you love the home you’re in, enjoy your neighbors and neighborhood, but you’ve simply outgrown the space you’re living in. Is moving really your only option?  There is another choice. A home addition can add space that lets you enjoy your Rochester home to its fullest.

There are actually a number of options for adding space to your existing home. If you enjoy entertaining, you might consider a remodeling project that gives you a bigger, better kitchen that incorporates an open floor plan so that friends and family can gather in a kitchen/great room setting—and nobody gets stuck in the kitchen. The kitchen you see pictured here is just one example of how you could accomplish that (Click here for additional kitchen designs we've implemented recently).

While a kitchen remodel might make better use of the space you already have, there are times when you actually want to increase the actual amount of space in your home. Here’s a look at a couple of options others in the Rochester area have chosen to give themselves more living space.

• Adding an Airy Sunroom

Sometimes you just need a quiet space where you can sit by yourself or with your spouse or with a couple of friends and enjoy a nice conversation. In addition to meeting that need this sun room addition lets in lots of natural light and lets you enjoy the views. You're surrounded by light and views on three sides. As a matter of fact, it almost doesn't feel like you're inside at all. Click here for additional views of this room—including how it seamlessly transitions into the rest of the home.

• Adding a Useful Garden Shed

Sometimes the main thing you need space for is to store your stuff. If your garage is overflowing with tools, supplies, and other items it can make the whole house feel cluttered.

The garden shed you see pictured here provides plenty of space for garden tools and materials. There’s even space for storing seasonal items such as Christmas decorations. Not only does a garden shed like this keep your garage free for your cars and other items, it also keeps the backyard looking neater. And if you click here for additional photos, you’ll see that we were able to match this shed to the design and color of the home—making it an addition that really looks like it belongs here.

These are just a few options. We’ve also done morning room additions,  first and second story additions, and even multi-story additions. Depending on your needs, we can add a family room addition or bedroom, a master bedroom, or even build a garage addition with overhead living space.

Just because you currently don’t have enough space doesn’t mean you have to move. Contact us and provide us with a little bit of information and we'll help you figure out a solution that works for you.

One choice you’ll face when choosing a floor plan for your new Rochester-area home is how many stories your home will have. You can chose from a wide variety of different floor plans that include one-story, two-story, and one-and-a-half-story homes. In addition to impacting your lifestyle now and potentially inthe future, the number of stories your house has can impact the cost of your home.

The fact of the matter is that it’s not just the number of stories (of floor levels) that impact a home’s cost. The overall size of the home, of course, plays a big role.

For instance, if you build a 2,000 square foot 2-story home and a 2,000 square foot single-story home, the one-level home will almost always be more expensive to construct. But being happy with your home is about more than just square footage—or a slight difference in cost. What you really want is a plan that meets your needs and makes you feel comfortable. The simple fact of the matter is that one-floorplan won't fit the needs of every individual.

These days, we find that many of our clients prefer open floor plans for their common rooms (kitchens, dining areas, family rooms). A ranch-style home in the range of 1,600 to 1,800 generally allows us to build a home that offers everything they want, such as a first-floor master bedroom, and easy access to everything. The cost for that is generally less than it would be for a similarly designed two-story home. That's because the two-story home will generally need to be a bit larger to include the features you want on the main level—and still have rooms upstairs.

So what about the cost for a one-and-a-half-story home? Prospective homeowners are frequently surprised to discover that this is generally the most expensive option. Part of the reason for that is that a one-and-a-half-story home usually has a good-sized first floor and a rather small amount of space in the upstairs. The dimensions of that small second floor prevent us from using standard trusses, and have to build flooring and other structural elements out of what we call “stick frame.” Unfortunately, that’s a more expensive process—and that makes the home cost more.

As I mentioned earlier, being happy with your home depends on more than square footage and cost. A much bigger factor is finding a floor plan that fits your needs (and your budget).

For a lot of people living in the Rochester area pets are a big part of family life. Wouldn’t it be nice if the new home you built in the area made your pets feel like pampered members of your family?

There are some innovative (and fairly simple) custom touches you can add to your new home to make it a truly pet-friendly environment. Let take a look at some examples of some things we did recently to help clients create a “Fur Baby-Friendly” place for their pets.

 

A Pet Portal: If you have a pet that likes to go in and out multiple times during the day, you may get a little weary of constantly opening and closing the back door. Here’s a clever solution that let’s your pet go in and out whenever it wants (without having to ask you first). This custom pet entrance allows pets to go out anytime through a swinging door that seals out heat, cold, and moisture. It provides a ramp to let animals access the yard easily.

 

A Window on the World: Both cats and dogs love to perch in a comfortable place where they can survey their domain and keep an eye on happenings in the neighborhood. This pet window seat is perfect for that. It’s low enough that pets can easily access it. It’s even a nice window seat for children! You can cover it with a washable pillow in order to keep it looking nice. And it may just help keep pets off the furniture!

 

A Custom Retractable Pet Gate: Often families will want to keep their pets contained in a particular room or area of the house. But many people aren’t fans of those clunky-looking portable gates that you can buy at pet stores. They often don’t fit well and they aren’t the most attractive things in the world. Here’s a much better solution. It’s a custom, built-in, retractable gate that looks like it was actually made to be part of your home (because it was!). This stylish gate operates smoothly and then disappears into the wall when you don’t want to use it. You never have to find a place to store it (or look for it later) because it’s right where you left it. Plus, it’s much more solid and stable than those portable gates from the store.

A Custom Pet Spa: Anybody who has ever struggled to give a dog or a cat a bath in the family tub knows what a struggle that can be. And when you’re done, there’s pet hair all over the bathroom in the drain. This custom pet spa solves that problem. Install this pet shower/bath in your basement, mudroom, or laundry room. There’s plenty of space to get your pet in and out without having to life it into a tub. And it saves wear and tear on your family bathroom.

 

If pets are a big part of your family, we’ll help you take care of them and make them feel at home in their new house. And don’t worry . . . we won’t forget about you, either. We have dozens of great floor plans for you to check out in order to find the perfect fit for the two-legged members of your family. And if you need customization of features on these plans, we’re here to help!

One of the benefits of building a custom home is that you have the ability to personalize the design to fit your needs and desires. For many homeowners, that means opting for a little more space. It’s easier—and cheaper to add rooms while your building your home than it is to add rooms later. But when it comes to adding space in that way, not all rooms are created equal—especially when it comes to cost. 

When you look at floor plans, you’ll often see two variations of additional rooms: “Bonus Rooms” and “Option Rooms.” They’re not the same thing, and knowing the difference can save—or cost—you money. 

• Bonus Room: A bonus room is a relatively inexpensive addition. It takes advantage of an existing foundation and roofline. A common place for a bonus room is over a garage. You can use that space as a Master Bedroom or a large entertainment room, or even a large home office. Because the foundation and roof are already in place, it’s not as expensive to build this out. You also have the option of leaving this room unfinished to save some money on the initial construction if your budget is tight. Then it’s relatively easy to finish the room later if you require more space down the road (say, when your kids get bigger). 

• Option Room: Today, option rooms are quite popular. Most plans for these rooms are for Morning Rooms, Sunrooms, or extended Family Rooms (or Great Rooms). Because they are located on the main level, they require a larger foundation (which means additional excavation and cement). They also require extra roofing because they don’t fall under the main roofline of the house. These rooms can be beautiful additions—but you’ll pay more for them than for a comparable Bonus Room space. 

It’s important to note that a bonus room over the garage doesn’t fulfill the same function as a Sun Room or Morning Room. It’s not a question of which is better. It’s simply that an Option Room will generally cost more to add than a Bonus Room because of the labor and materials involved in creating it. It really comes down towhat kind of space you need—and what your budget will allow.

The winter months are a great time to think about remodeling projects for your Rochester-area home. Normal outdoor construction tends to slow a bit and that means quality builders are more available for indoor projects.

But which projects make the most sense for your home? There may be some projects you have to take on simply because your needs have changed. If you have kids that have gotten older and need more space, a home addition may be the obvious choice. But if there are other areas of the house you’ve been thinking about, which one’s will give you the most bang for your buck? 

The 2014 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvalue.com) provides an overview of what a variety of home renovation projects in the Rochester area cost—and what kind of return they provide on the money you invest (the money you’ll get back out if you sell your home). They cover a wide variety of projects, but let’s look at just a few midrange projects here. Bear in mind that these are average figures.

As you can see, there’s a fair amount of variety in costs and in return on investment (ROI). But the ROI is only part of the story.  What it doesn’t reflect is the comfort and enjoyment you receive from living in a newly remodeled home. And while a project such as a home office remodel doesn’t generate as much money at resale, if it allows you to work from home efficiently, it can be worth a considerable amount.

These are just a few of the projects you might consider. You can check out Gerber’s remodeling services that include kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, home additions, in-law additions, and more. And if you’re concerned about remodeling during the cold winter months, rest easy— we’ve developed an approach that allows side, back, and second-story additions to be completed while your family remains in the house throughout construction process!