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Most
of the Lancaster County, PA homeowners we talk to have no idea the cost
of building some sort of home addition, like a sunroom, family room,
master suite or garage. Now there are many different projects that fall
under the addition category, and they aren’t just all the same cost of
course. You should plan to invest anywhere from $20,000 to $200,000+
depending on the type of room addition project you and your family are
planning.
Now I’m sure you are saying, “That is a ridiculously big range... What about my sunroom?”… or mudroom, or garage, et al.
Answer?
We created this Addition Investment Calculator for Lancaster County, PA
to help you get a realistic idea of what you should plan on investing
in your specific room addition project.
Major Investment Calculator Factors:
To get a clearer idea of where your project may fall in the range
below, you must consider a lot of different things. The following are
just some of the factors that typically affect the cost of adding on to
your home.
Size:
The first major investment consideration is the square footage you
envision on your project. No matter which project you are planning,
bigger will always require a higher investment.
Exterior Finishes:
The type of siding you choose plays an important role on the cost of
your addition. Also, your door styles, roofing material, and any
exterior lights you want will add to the bottom line.
Interior Finishes:
Inside, there are a lot of ways to increase your position on the
addition calculator below. What are we going to need? The type of
flooring; total number and sizes of windows; trim work? If you are
adding a kitchen, bathroom or other family area, you may need to choose
cabinets, fixtures, countertops, tub material, paint and/or extra
outlets.
Types of Additions:
Sunroom: $20,000 – 70,000+
Mudroom: $15,000 – 35,000+
Family Room: $50,000 – 70,000+
Bathroom Addition: $35,000 – 70,000+
Kitchen Addition: $35,000 - 100,000+
Garage w/ or w/o In Law Quarters upstairs: $50,000 – 140,000+
Additional garage building considerations: 1 story or 2? # of windows
and entry doors? Number and style of garage doors? Finished drywall
inside? In-laws quarters: bathroom and kitchen finish/appliance
considerations?
Master Suite: $100,000 – 200,000+
2nd story: $150,000 – 200,000+
About this calculator:
• These estimated numbers are based on our long experience in the Lancaster County, PA remodeling field and Remodeling Magazine’s 2011-2012 Harrisburg, PA Cost vs. Value Report.
• All
additions are structural buildings, meaning they require building
permits, foundations must be dug and poured, Township inspections, etc.
These price ranges are very large, so contact us to get an exact quote on your Lancaster County, PA home addition! We can also help you with financing, design and floor plans.
Sometimes while discussing a 4-season sunroom with our Lancaster County, PA clients, we get on the discussion of an alternative option: a 3-season room. Most of the time people were not aware of the term 3-season room or what it was, even though they usually have seen one after we explain it.
Here is a quick rundown of 4-season and 3-season rooms, their pros and cons and even an idea if you’re considering your own addition!
What is a 4-season room? A four-season room is a heated room addition. These are structures added to your home. The most common types are sunrooms and mudrooms. With a sunroom, you have large windows to let in the sun! A mudroom is usually a place of entry into the home, used for umbrellas, shoes and storage, or even a nice breakfast nook!
These usually allow the perfect place to relax with your family during the beautiful sunny days, but no matter what the weather outside is doing you can enjoy these rooms 365 days a year.
Pros:
• Air-conditioned and heated for year round enjoyment.
• Enjoy the natural light. Sunrooms with a lot of windows give you an “outdoor” feeling with out leaving the AC!
Cons:
• This is a structure like your home, meaning it needs a foundation dug and footers laid. This adds to the cost of building the new room.
Ideas:
• Cover your whole sunroom roof with windows for a complete outdoor experience!
What is a 3-season room? A 3-season room is a windowed room that is not heated, therefore it is (usually) unusable in the cold winter months. They are however perfect for those cool nights of Spring and Fall, as well as being outside on a hot Summer day without the sun beating down on you and your family. You can either enclose an existing deck or porch, or build a completely new one.
Tip: When adding or enclosing a porch, use four-track windows for the best performance of the room.
Pros:
• Less expensive.
• Can take as little as a few days to complete an enclosure of an existing porch.
Cons:
• This room is usually not in use during the Winter months.
Ideas:
• Consider Sunspace four-track vinyl windows. They are custom, durable and affordable, so replacing the screens on your existing porch is a breeze.
I hope that covers it! If you have any questions or are ready for a sunroom or enclosed porch in Lancaster County, PA, please contact Mike Blank, CGR CAPS and MBC Building & Remodeling, LLC in Millersville!
Not all Lancaster County, PA remodeling contractors are the same. We feel we are the best value in the area, and here is why.
MBC Building & Remodeling, LLC Customer Commitments:
1. You will NOT be sold. We are consulting with you on your family's project. We will discuss specific options and ideas with you, and not things that you don't need or want.
2. You will know EXACTLY what is included and will be performed in our proposal price, with no hidden fees or fluctuating estimates. This includes a payment plan, which will not require, as by PA law, more than 1/3 down payment.
3. You will know EXACTLY who will be here and what they will be doing. EVERYDAY.
4. We offer a 5-year Warranty (vs. the industry average of 1 year) so you know that no matter what may happen, we will ALWAYS be here to take care of it for you, promptly and professionally.
5. When we are on your project, we are here to work. No excessive breaks, no goofing around. From 7am to 3:30pm Monday through Friday we will be focused on creating your DREAM HOME.
6. Your family and your home will be treated as if it was our very own, with respect, care and courtesy.
When it's time for a new sunroom, a home addition, bathroom, kitchen, deck or basement renovation, give us a call!
Thank you!
Matt & Mike Blank
MBC Building & Remodeling, LLC
[717] 371.5136
(This is a guest post from Madison Parker.)
One
way to keep your home safe from would-be intruders is to install
effective dead bolts on your doors. However, it’s important to look at
what type of dead bolt to buy and what makes certain dead bolts even
more effective - and discouraging to burglars - than others.
In
general terms, as part of any basic security plan, homeowners should
install what is known as Grade 1 or ANSI-designated deadbolt locks on
every exterior door, including those between garages and home interiors.
Burglars would of course prefer that you not use a deadbolt at all, and
instead install an easy to pick spring lock. In fact, they’ll often
avoid buildings with strong dead bolts in search of an easier target.
Since
most area building codes do not require dead bolt type locks at all,
the task of selecting an appropriate lock falls on the homeowner. Start
your selection process by looking at a lock that’s a deterrent to
burglars: one that can’t be picked, pried, hammered or drilled out
easily. That means a lock that has an ANSI Grade 1 specification, which
means the dead bolt has been tested to show that it can withstand up to
ten hammer blows, and can effectively open and close two hundred and
fifty thousand times, and project itself one inch into the door frame.
Grade two dead bolts are also considered recommended for home use, but
the grade one specification means it’s the sturdiest by far.
You
should also look at what is called the UL or underwriters laboratories
listing standards. The sturdiest locks have a UL listing of four hundred
and thirty seven, meaning the lock meets the highest standards for
security locking. And, once you’ve found an ANSI Grade 1, UL 437 lock,
you’ll need to decide if you want a single or double cylinder lock. A
double cylinder requires a key to operate even from the inside, which
can make usage a bit more complex for your family. A single cylinder is
the type of dead bolt most of us use, and it requires a key to lock and
unlock from the outside, but operates with a twist of the wrist from the
inside.
If
your exterior door has a window in it, you may want a double cylinder,
as an intruder could potentially break a window, reach inside, and
simply turn the single cylinder lock. However, if there are no windows
on your door, the added complication of using a double cylinder lock is
probably not worth it. They can also be dangerous if you’re trying to
exit your home quickly in the event of a fire or another emergency. In
general, a single cylinder lock is strong and safe if you have a solid
door.
Select
your dead bolt lock by choosing one that features steel bolts or steel
inserts with a one inch throw or more. What is a one inch throw? It’s
the one inch of bolt that extends past your door’s edge, making it more
difficult for an intruder to pick your lock.
Other facets to look for: a striking plate that’s steel with screws at least three inches in length.
Select a leading brand such as Master Lock, Schlage, or Baldwin.
Some Examples:
- Schlage
B60 609 Grade 1 Single Cylinder Deadbolt or the Kwikset 99800-092
Signatures 980 Grade 1 Security Single Cylinder SmartKey with a
customized security system that allows easy re-keying if a key is lost.
- Medeco Maxum 11WC60L, one of the toughest out there.
Electronic keyless deadbolts
When
selecting an electronic model be sure to find one that prevents lock
bumping which is one way dead bolts can be broken. The Sunnect AP501AB
and the Schlage BE365VCAM619 Camelot Deadbolt Keypad are both excellent
keyless dead bolt models.
Madison
Parker is a security expert whose interests range from personal to home
security systems. Get more tips and advice on her Home Security blog!
Thank you to elocal.com for this guest post and infographic!!
From cooking to cleaning and manufacturing to shipping, humans consume excessive amounts of the earth’s most precious resource. Since only 1% of the earth’s water is available for human consumption, we need to reduce the amount of water we use.
Excessive water consumption occurs in our homes everyday. Curious to know how much water your own home is wasting? With the help of our Blog-Off experts, we’ve compiled information on US residential water consumption.
(click here to
enlarge photo)
