The Pros and Cons of Building Up vs. Building Out

There are two main approaches when constructing a home addition: building up and building out. The approach you choose for your project will primarily depend on your goals. In this article, V. Nanfito Roofing & Siding, the leading roofing contractor in our local area, discusses whether you should build up or build out when investing in a home addition.

Building Up

When building up, your new home addition will not expand the footprint of your house. For example, you can add another story to a one-story or two-story building. You can also expand the top floor by installing large dormers in your roof. During this home addition, your contractor will most likely have to strengthen your home’s foundation and wall structure. Building up means that you won’t have to deal with zoning restrictions, but you might have to deal with allowable height restrictions for houses in your area.

Building Out

The vast majority of additions involve building out and increasing the footprint of the house. Many additions are first-floor additions. During this project, your contractor will use a backhoe to dig up the yard where the new addition will be built. They will also install a new foundation and construct the walls and roof of the new addition. As a roofing and remodeling contractor, we recommend building out for homeowners who want the least disruption to their existing living space during the project.

Small additions can even be made as a bump out, avoiding foundation work entirely. However, building out means that you will lose some of your yard. You might also require a zoning variance from your town. You should also be mindful of your town’s floor-area-ratio rating.

V. Nanfito Roofing & Siding can help you with all your roof repair, roof replacement and remodeling needs. We’ve been in business for 56 years and our decades of experience allow us to offer our customers a superior level of service compared with our competitors. We’re known for our commitment to quality. We stand behind the unmatched quality of our work and we’re confident that our service is among the best in the nation. Call us at (203) 639-1634 to learn more about our services and products or to request a free estimate.

Vincent Nanfito