12 Cheap Ways to Add a Room to Your House

Last updated on April 20, 2022

There are a few things that can be done cheaply to add a room to a house. These ideas will not waste your life savings.

You may have heard of people doing it, but you might not know how to build an addition to a house, or what kind of problems they run into along the way. If you’re thinking about adding an extra room yourself, keep reading for some tips on planning and building your own inexpensively.

Finish What’s Still Unfinished

If you’re looking to invest in your home by building out a basement or attic area, finishing off those areas is one of the most important things you’ll do when it comes time to sell. This will ensure buyers know exactly what they’re getting themselves into. If you don’t finish these spaces, potential buyers could be confused about whether this is just another unfinished basement or if it has been finished but needs work done. Either way, it won’t look good on paper.

Enclose a Patio

If you have an enclosed patio, it’s time for some expansion! You could build onto your house or extend your existing deck and make it into a room with walls. Either way will give you more living area without breaking the budget.

Turn the Garage into a Room

The garage is often used as storage space, but if you’re lucky enough to live in a home with one, why not turn it into another bedroom? It’ll save on rent money because there are no other roommates sharing expenses, plus you get extra square footage.

A garage can add more than just storage space; it’s also an area that you can use for entertaining or relaxing. If your garage has been unfinished for years, consider finishing it out as another living space.

Bump Out

A bump-out isn’t just an addition to the exterior of a house; it also adds more living space inside by extending the house’s footprint. This means adding on extra rooms or even making one into another bedroom.

Prefab Addition

Another option for expanding your home is prefabrication. Prefab construction allows builders to create custom-built structures using premanufactured parts. These components include everything from doors to windows to roofing materials. The result is a structure that looks like it was built right at your property instead of being shipped across the country.

Prefab additions aren’t always cheaper than traditional methods, but they offer many benefits over conventional options.

Add a Second Story

If you’re looking to increase the size of your home, adding an extra story might do the trick. You’ll need to get permits from local building officials before starting construction on this project, though.

Enclose a Porch

Porches have been around since ancient times. They were originally used as an extension of the living space into nature. Today porches are still very popular because they provide extra outdoor seating or even more storage.

Build Over the Garage

This option isn’t always possible or practical, depending on where you live. However, if you have access to this area, building over the garage will give you more living space than just expanding into the backyard.

Dormer

Dormers are one of the most popular additions to homes today. They’re easy to install and provide lots of extra living areas. The only problem is that dormers don’t always fit into existing roofs perfectly. That means you may end up having to tear down or modify your current roof.

Attic

An attic provides plenty of additional storage space. In fact, many homeowners choose to finish off their attics so they can create additional bedrooms. There are several different options for finishing an attic, including drywall, insulation, plumbing fixtures, lighting, etc.

Wrap up a Deck

Deck wraps aren’t new ideas. People have been using them for decades to protect decks against weather damage. These days, however, they’ve become much easier to construct thanks to modern materials like composite wood.

Sunroom

One of the best ways to enjoy summertime outdoors is through a sunroom. A sunroom addition doesn’t require any major renovations either. All you really need is a door leading outside and windows facing south.

The walls of a sunroom are usually made of windows or sliding glass doors, which is less expensive than building a room with solid walls or insulation.

Consider the Size

Suppose you’re looking to add an extra bedroom, a modular bathroom pod, or living area to your home, size matters. The larger the room, the higher the price tag will be. If you want to keep things simple, go smaller. A small kitchen island or dining table would work just fine if you don’t plan on entertaining often.

It’s not always the case that a bigger addition will cost more than a smaller one.

Should You Add an Addition to Your House?

If you’re thinking about adding an addition to your home, it can be overwhelming at first. But there are some things that you need to know before deciding whether or not to add on to your house. Here is what you should consider when deciding if you want to build an addition onto your existing structure.

How Much Room Do You Really Want?

The biggest question in any remodeling project is how much space do you really need? This is especially true when considering adding an addition to your house. It might seem obvious, but you must decide exactly how large you want your addition to be. Will you use all of the available space? Or will you limit yourself to certain rooms, such as a family room or laundry room? Once you figure out how much space you need, you’ll be able to determine how much money you can spend on construction.

What is Your Budget for Construction and Renovations?

Once you know how much space you need and how much money you have to invest, you can plan your renovation. When determining a budget, think about everything from the initial design phase to the completion date. Are you going to hire professionals who specialize in additions? Can you afford to pay someone else to help you complete the project? Think about these questions now because once you get started, you won’t have time to change plans later.

How Much Does an Addition to Your Home Cost?

The first step when considering an addition is determining how much money you want to spend. Several factors will affect this decision, including square footage, location, design style, materials used, etc. Once you know what you’re looking at spending, you’ll be able to determine whether or not you should go ahead with the project.

The average cost of adding a room to your house is $80 to $200 per square foot, according to HomeAdvisor.

If you don’t feel comfortable estimating costs, consider hiring a professional architect specializing in residential construction. They will consider many different aspects of building an addition so you can focus on other important decisions like where to put the new room.

FAQ

How much does it cost to add a 12×12 room?

A typical 12 x 12 room price would range between $12,000-$30,000 depending on size, quality, and features.

What kind of material should I choose for my addition?

You may find that choosing a specific type of material makes sense based on your needs. If you plan to live in the area permanently, then you probably want something durable. On the other hand, if you only intend to rent the extra space temporarily, you may prefer something lighter weight. The best way to narrow down options is by talking to local builders and architects. Ask them which materials work well in your climate and which ones require special attention during installation.

Can I add a room to my house myself?

Yes! You can build most kinds of structures using basic carpentry skills. However, there’s no substitute for experience and expertise. A good builder has years of hands-on training under their belt. They know how to make sure every aspect of the job goes smoothly. Plus, they understand the importance of safety precautions. So before starting your own home improvement project, talk to a few contractors to see which one fits your personality and lifestyle.

Does an extra bedroom add value to a house?

Adding an extra bedroom usually increases property values. This is especially true if the extra room was designed specifically for guests. It also helps increase resale potential since buyers often look for more bedrooms than renters do. But keep in mind that some people might view having too many rooms as being cluttered. In general, though, homeowners tend to appreciate any improvements made to their homes.