Preparing for a Home Addition

The DH team is currently working with a client on a potential home addition in St. Louis Hills. It’s a beautiful old Tudor with an original brick structure and a more recent one-story addition off the back. The proposed plan is to add a second story to the addition with a hall, linen closet, full bath and bedroom with a walk-in closet.

We initially met with the client and produced a sketch while working off of the original blueprints for their home, which was really interesting. The goal was to get the updated spaces they need and blend the new addition into the original architectural style of the historical home. This also included giving a facelift to the previous addition.  We amended the sketch based on customer feedback and priced the project. We then entered into a professional services agreement and arranged for a structural engineer to look at the structure and do a home inspection.  It was important to ensure that the structure was stable because we wouldn’t want to move forward on the project if the structure was unsound. Plus, we want to minimize any surprises and unexpected costs in the midst of the project.

We did a very thorough inspection; we checked all the connections to the original structure and addition. We also dug down to the footing and cut into drywall to expose the timbers to make sure they were sized in accordance to the plan and that joists were installed accordingly. Throughout the inspection, we did find some deviations. The engineer pointed out areas of concern in the structure, including sagging on the roofline of the original structure.  It is important to note that we quickly restored their home and lawn after the inspection. Everything was repaired and cleaned up within 24 hours.

After the inspection, we reviewed the engineer’s findings with the homeowner and are now in the process of pricing and providing a budget for what it would take to prepare the structure to ensure it can receive the new addition. We recently had on-site meetings with professional subcontractors and the homeowner, with the goal of minimizing the homeowners’ expense and inconvenience while setting their expectations and ensuring that the addition is feasible and adds value to their home before we move ahead with the project.

We’re very much looking forward to this home renovation. Stay tuned for updates! If you are considering an addition to your home, contact us for a free initial consultation.