Expanding your home can be a great way to add room for a new family member, office space, or storage. But there are definitely some structural issues that you must consider when it comes to building a new home expansion…
Consider the Age of Your Existing Structure
It’s easy to see why homeowners with older homes might want additional space, as older homes were traditionally smaller than what we’re accustomed to today. However, adding a new structure onto an existing one can be a challenge for various reasons:
First, the older portions of your home were built using older methods (such as spread footings) to help maintain stability. Most contractors today might not use these methods to install an addition, so the structure is going to settle differently.
Second, an older home has had time to settle and shift over time. You might not notice it right away, but your addition might show signs of wear or damage after years of being attached to your home. That’s because the addition is moving and settling, whereas the older portion of your structure is more or less done with that.
This is why you often find misaligned floors, windows and doors that don’t work as they should, and drywall cracks in newer additions. These are signs of foundation damage.
Consider the Size of Your Roof
Another thing to consider is the size of your roof. Your new addition expands your roof, and more roof surface means more water is caught when it rains. This water runs down drainpipes and seeps into the soil (causing it to expand). Then, when it dries, the soil contracts again. This may affect the walls and foundation of your new addition.
There are other factors you must account for as well, including the depth of your foundation walls. With so many variables at play, it’s no wonder that you need a knowledgeable, experienced custom home builder at the helm. And that’s what makes John Falvella Construction Services the perfect choice for your home addition project.
When you choose John Falvella Construction Services to manage your home addition, you can rest assured that we’ll do everything in our power to make sure your entire structure stays safe, aligned, and on a stable foundation. Call us today to see how we can help!