Not every home addition has to be a large new wing. Depending on what you need, a smaller project may give you the space you want with less disruption. Here is how the three most common options compare.
Bump-outs
A bump-out extends an existing room by a few feet. It might make room for a breakfast nook, a larger shower, a window seat or a more workable kitchen layout.
Some bump-outs are supported by extending the floor framing, and others sit on their own foundation. Which approach works depends on the size of the bump-out and how your house is built.
Good fit when: one room feels just a little too tight, and a few feet would solve the problem.
Keep in mind: a bump-out still involves the roof, siding and foundation or floor framing, so it is real construction. It also changes the room's exterior wall, which can affect windows, plumbing or wiring in that wall.
Sunrooms
A sunroom adds a bright room with a lot of glass, often off a kitchen or living room. In Michigan, the key choice is how you plan to use it:
- Three-season room: not insulated or heated for winter use. It is comfortable from spring to fall.
- Four-season room: insulated, heated and cooled like the rest of the house, so you can use it year-round.
A four-season room needs more insulation, better windows and a way to heat and cool it, so plan for that if you want to use the room in January.
Good fit when: you want a light-filled space for relaxing, plants or meals with a view.
Full additions
A full addition adds one or more complete rooms with their own foundation, walls, roof and systems. It can hold a family room, a primary suite, a larger kitchen or space for extended family.
Good fit when: you need a significant amount of new space or rooms that work like the rest of the house.
Keep in mind: full additions involve zoning setbacks, foundation work, roofline design and extending heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical. They take the most planning.
Questions that help you decide
- What exactly will the new space be used for?
- Do you need it year-round?
- Does it need plumbing, such as a bathroom or kitchen?
- How much yard space are you willing to give up?
- How should it connect to the rooms you use most?
Whichever option fits, most of these projects need a building permit. Confirm what your lot allows early.
Learn more about how we plan home additions.
