You really don’t like the painstaking idea of moving, but you’ve grown out of your home. What else can you do? Stay in the home and location you love with a home addition. You’ll gain more square footage so everyone can live comfortably without the frustrating effort of having to move.
But how much will a home addition cost in the Vancouver, Washington, area? Well, it depends on the type of space you’d like to add. To help you plan your addition and know what to expect, we’ve broken down the most common types of additions, where your addition should be placed, and what else can affect the cost of your project.
How Much Does an Addition Cost?
You may have searched online for how much a home addition will cost. Straightforward prices, or even cost per square foot, don’t quite give the full picture because the cost will depend on several factors. The kind of room you’re adding, the grade of finishes and features you choose, the size of the addition, the scope of work, the land you’re building on, and other considerations all factor into your final cost.
Build Up or Bump Out?
Another factor for determining the cost is whether you’re building up or bumping out. Building up is adding another story to your home; while bumping out is extending your foundation and roof to accommodate the added square footage. The decision between the two will likely depend on your circumstances and the type of space you’re looking to add. Ask yourself these questions when you’re deciding between building up or bumping out:
- Am I willing to lose yard space?
- What kind of room am I adding?
- Is accessibility an issue either now or in the future?
- Do my property lines keep me from extending the footprint of my house?
- How many stories are the other homes in my neighborhood?
Your home office, a spare bedroom, and bathroom, or a recreational room could easily go on either floor. Typically, a primary suite addition or additional family room would be added on as a bump out, but this will be determined by how you answered some of the above questions.
Cost of Addition by Room
Home addition costs don’t increase evenly as square footage increases. This means that a 200-square-foot room isn’t going to cost twice as much as a 100-square-foot room. This is because some of the costs that go into an addition will remain the same no matter the size of the addition. Because of this, it’s a good idea to get all of your home addition plans done at once instead of spreading them out over time.
To learn exactly how this could benefit your home addition plans, consult with a trusted local design-build firm. For now, here are the most common additions and their average industry costs. Learn more about what can affect your cost toward the end.
Basic 20x20 Room Addition
A bedroom, living room, family room, or dining room are some of the most basic additions. They typically don’t require nearly the amount of features and finishes of a bathroom or kitchen and usually only need electricity outside of the standard floor, walls, and ceiling. A standard 20x20 room could cost between $35,000 and $55,000 in Vancouver, Washington.
Bathroom Addition
Adding a bathroom can range from a half bathroom, or powder room, to a full primary bathroom to turn your bedroom into a primary suite. The average cost of adding a bathroom to your home could be between $15,000 and $120,000. The average square footage for the three main types of bathrooms are:
- Half Bathroom: 16-20 square feet
- Full Bathroom: 35-40 square feet
- Primary, or Master, Bathroom: 100-210 square feet
As you can see, the full range in average sizes is almost 200 square feet, which is why the cost range is also quite wide. A half bathroom only requires a sink and a commode. While a primary bathroom will typically contain a bathtub, a walk-in shower, a double vanity, at least one private water closet, and possibly the addition of an attached walk-in closet.
Primary Suite Addition
A primary, or master, suite addition includes a bathroom, bedroom, and walk-in closet. For a 24x16 foot addition, your cost could be around $126,000. A larger suite, 32x20 square feet, could cost around $255,000. These costs are based on a few design factors.
Your primary suite addition should be your quiet respite where you begin and end your day feeling refreshed, relaxed, and rejuvenated. For the most personalized space consider what would bring you peace. A fireplace with built-ins and a sitting area can open up to a private patio or deck. Your primary suite can include a private entry hall to create a little more space between your room and the rest of the home.
A walk-in closet can become a dressing room, with more space for custom storage and a closet island for jewelry, ties, hats, and plenty of drawers for anything else. In the attached bathroom, create an oasis with in-floor radiant heating, a curbless glass-enclosed walk-in shower, a freestanding tub, and beautiful finishes.
Outdoor Kitchen & Living Space
Spend more time outdoors in your own outdoor kitchen. It’s become a popular addition over the past few years and more homeowners are enjoying the ease of cooking and dining outside. Outdoor kitchen additions range from about $20,000 to $60,000 in Vancouver, Washington. Consider each of these options for your outdoor kitchen and living area:
- Built-in grill
- Sink
- Storage
- Adjacent dining area
- Range
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Bar
- Lounge area
- Patio with a fire pit
- TVs
- Bluetooth sound system
Kitchen Expansion
Many homeowners become frustrated with their kitchen. Not enough storage, cramped space, dated finishes, and not enough natural light are all too common frustrations. Adding space to your kitchen can also include adding a mudroom and a walk-in pantry. You’ll have so much added storage and convenience in your new space! A kitchen expansion could cost from $48,000 to $95,000, depending on the square footage you’d like to add, the finishes you choose, and other factors.
Mudroom & Laundry Room
Mudroom and laundry room additions are incredibly useful for containing life’s daily messes. These utilitarian spaces can also be outfitted with durable but stylish flooring, lots of custom-built storage, an extra sink, easy-to-clean tile, and custom cubbies for everyone in the home. To add a mudroom or laundry room, expect the cost to be around $200 per square foot. However, this could fluctuate depending on the grade of finishes you choose.
In-law suite
An in-law suite is incredibly useful, especially if you plan to have an older loved one move in soon. However, this space can also be used as a more private home office, gym, space for guests, or an older child that’s moving back home. Typically this is a detached space around 600 square feet that includes a bedroom, kitchenette, bathroom, and small living space. The cost for an in-law suite can range from around $80,000 to $135,000 but can, of course, exceed this for more square footage or higher-end amenities.
What Affects the Cost of Your Addition?
Any remodel, including additions, is priced according to certain conditions. The flooring, lighting, countertops, tile, and more can push and pull your final cost by tens of thousands of dollars. For an addition on the ground level, you will also factor in the cost of preparing the land for a foundation, just as you would for a new home. To keep your budget balanced while getting the space and design you need and want, work with a design-build team.
Design-build is a method that’s designed to encourage collaboration between the designer and builder from the beginning, keeping your project within your budget and on time. To learn more about the design-build process and discuss your home addition goals, contact North Light Builders. North Light Builders creates expertly designed and built spaces across Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania Counties. With a focus on each client’s home remodel or addition vision, North Light Builders works to improve not only your home but your everyday life.
