You want to add space to your home, but you’re not sure if a full room addition is the best option for you. A bump out addition is an affordable way to increase the square footage of your house without breaking the bank. This project will cost less than a traditional room addition and won’t take as long, either.
The process can be completed within just a few months’ time and only requires minor construction work on your part. If you’re looking for a solution to adding more space in your home, consider getting a bump-out addition. Keep reading to learn how this works.
What is a Bump Out Addition?
A bump out is an extra space that is far smaller than a full addition and often doesn’t even rise to the size of a room addition. Here are home addition ideas that can help inspire your next home improvement project:
Plan a Second Story Addition
A bump out addition is a small room that juts out from the side of your home. These can be built to add an extra room, like a new bedroom or entertainment area, and they’re often added in addition to a more traditional second-story addition. Depending on the size of your home, this addition adds significantly square footage and resale value to your home.
Enhance the Laundry Room
Homeowners who don’t have an actual laundry room in their home are turning to the bump out addition. These can provide homeowners with plenty of storage space for laundry supplies and increase the usability of spaces like basements. If your current laundry area is small, don’t hesitate to expand it and get square footage.
Turn an Attached Garage into an Extra Room
Many homeowners need an extra bedroom but don’t have room on their property for a separate structure. Instead of adding to the home, turn the attached garage into a third space. Not only can this be great for your children or guests to stay in, but it also allows you to keep the convenience of an attached garage without sacrificing living space. A garage bump can only be considered additional square footage if you don’t use it as a garage.
Before you build over a garage, make sure you check with your local building codes and zoning ordinances to see if a permit is required. Some towns don’t allow for this type of construction, so you’ll want to know the criteria before spending money on plans and supplies. You’ll also need to be a vapor barrier to block car exhaust, and of course, a new roof. A good choice might be an attached garage that isn’t used as a car space.
Consider a Bump Out Addition
Cantilevered bump outs are elegant and can extend your home in an angular or curved fashion. Not only do they improve the look of the house but they, also bring windows into what is normally a dark, windowless space. A bump out addition gives you square footage without disturbing your yard or other structures on your property.
Some bump out ideas for small rooms include creating a window nook in a living room, building a walk in closet, adding space for a bathtub in a bathroom, or increasing the space of a kitchen to allow for counter space. These small additions will not need additional heating and air conditioning and often have a shed roof or flat roof in lieu of extending the existing roof.
Most bump outs blend easily to the home’s existing exterior, thanks to their size. If considering a bump out addition to the first floor, the foundation can be a simple concrete slab or elevated over a crawl space. Adding 45 square feet to a room could boost a 150 square foot area by 30%.
Add on to Your Kitchen
Bump out additions to your kitchen can add a great deal of space and allow you to include new appliances and counter space. Kitchens are often the most frequently used room in a home, and having bump out space can eliminate cramped conditions. Additions that come out more than one wall allow for increased walk-around space, thus making any kitchen feel larger.
By extending a room with a bump out addition, you could add a window seat with a large bay window or provide a kitchen with a dining area like a breakfast nook, or an extra workspace such as an island.
Bump Out a Bathroom
If you have a small bathroom that is cramped for space, consider adding a bathtub area to one side of the room. This bump out gives you a place to take a relaxing hot bath while increasing your available floor space by at least 30 percent.
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Increasing your bathroom square foot can also increase your property value. Try extending your master bathroom to include space for a soaking tub or dual sinks. You can also add a half bath in an underutilized small space like under the stairs, a closet, an attic bonus room, or a basement. If you have a perfect bathroom layout plan by your side, you’ll find this project very easy.
Incorporate a Mudroom
Adding a mudroom entrance to your current home can give you a place for storage, entry from both the street and the garage, and laundry rooms. An entire mudroom addition is also a handy way to keep shoes, coats, and backpacks all organized in one space. Installing wall hooks, built-in cabinets, lockers, or cubbies during the remodel adds additional storage and visual appeal.
Change the Front Porch into a Sunroom
Adding a sunroom to the front of your house can be beneficial for decorative and practical purposes. Many homeowners choose to turn their porch into a seating area, game room, reading nook, or barbeque space. For your front porch to be considered livable square footage, it needs to have heating and be accessible from the house.
Make your sunroom addition feel like a second living room with lamps, comfortable furniture, and plenty of seating. When it comes to choosing sunroom additions vs. full room additions, sunroom additions are less expensive than the full room additions.
Get Creative with Back Patio and Outdoor Living Spaces
Don’t neglect your backyard if you want to make the most of your outdoor space. Even if you already have a patio, landscaping and yard upkeep can take up a lot of extra time and money. Consider adding an outdoor living room or kitchen as an extension of your family room. This way, you can still enjoy the natural beauty of your backyard, but spend less time maintaining it.
Finish the Attic
If you have unused space in your attic, consider finishing it to create more room for storage or another bedroom. Adding a bedroom in the attic is like adding two rooms in one. It’s beneficial for families with growing children who need more privacy or couples who enjoy separate sleeping areas. Also, keep in mind that sunroom additions work well in conjunction with finished attics, the extra space makes a great spot for a sauna or steam shower room.
Take Blue Prints to County Assessor
If you plan to build a house bump out addition, take blueprints and your subdivision map to your local county assessor’s office. Find out if the planned footprint of the addition requires that additional square footage become taxable or not. Their records might not match the actual numbers, but it’s a good idea to check if you’re planning on buying or selling a house as a way to check an appraiser’s work.
Add a Dormer to a House
Dormer windows are a great way to give the exterior of your house a little extra flair. If you’ve ever wanted to add dormers to your home, but don’t want the expense or hassle of roofing work, then house bump out additions can be just what you’re looking for. Dormer windows often have a very low profile compared to other windows, adding a little bit of height to the ceiling.
Dormers are usually built in an area where the roof has slanted walls at either end. This space can be used for storage or if there are steep slopes on both sides, it may make sense to add a window that looks over the yard or street.
FAQs on Adding Space with a House Bump Out Addition
How big can you make a bump out addition?
The weight of a cantilevered bump out is held by the home’s existing floor joists. The larger the joists, the larger your bump out can be. Homeowners often add bump out additions to the first floor of the home. However, you can also add one to the second floor or build an attached second story bump out.
How much does a bump out addition cost?
The price of your bump out can be defined by how it is added to the existing house. If you are adding an enclosed room, the structure needs to support both floors and their weight, so construction costs could go up.
Final THought on Adding Space with Bump Out Addition
As you can see, bump out additions are cheaper than full additions. So, if you adopt the bump out addition, it will cost you less money. But remember that a bump out addition can be built with any idea of house design. So, if you need more space for additional furniture or guests to stay, try adding space with a bump out addition.
