Adding a second level to a rambler

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We paid a bit over 100k to add 600 square feet in Silver Spring.

Does this include a bathroom? Can you post your contractor?

Yes it did. Krause Design and Construction.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't sound worth it to me if it's going to cost more than $100k. Just buy a bigger house.

[Anonymous]

dont use a large D/B firm. Find an indepedent architect, perhaps one who works for a flat fee, for plans. Bid it out. You can get ballpark estimates from other firms. I almost went with Wall to Wall construction--very competitive, though you do more of the leg work in terms of getting permits and getting an architect for plans (though they do suggest some). You can try a cople of hte construction companies too. Lofft, etc.

[Anonymous]

Architect is a waste. Use a small design build that wants this work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't sound worth it to me if it's going to cost more than $100k. Just buy a bigger house.

That all depends on what you paid for the original house - we bought for $250K 11 years ago and plan to put $200K into an addition - we couldn't find a comparable house for $450K, so it does make financial sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Architect is a waste. Use a small design build that wants this work

Totally disagree. Apart from the fact that you'll simply get a better design and product with most architects than a design build firm (who often don't even use architects) the architect will help advocate for you to make sure you get a good deal from your contractor and make sure that detailed specs are developed that fit with the design and your needs.

[Anonymous]

I am not sure how necessary an official architect is if we use a contractor who has done this before.

Our design is really very simple - we just need a bathroom, 2 walk-in closets and a bedroom. We already know where we want everything also, bc the bedroom will be at the back of the house and the bathroom will be over the current bathroom. The placement of the stairs will be tricky, but I think there is only one logical solution.

Spending $20K for architectural plans to make a rectangle area into the above plan seems insane.

[Anonymous]

whether you hire an architect or not, you will need someone to do drawings for engineering review and permitting. Most likely a contractor will point you to, or already uses, an architect for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure how necessary an official architect is if we use a contractor who has done this before.

Our design is really very simple - we just need a bathroom, 2 walk-in closets and a bedroom. We already know where we want everything also, bc the bedroom will be at the back of the house and the bathroom will be over the current bathroom. The placement of the stairs will be tricky, but I think there is only one logical solution.

Spending $20K for architectural plans to make a rectangle area into the above plan seems insane.

It would be insane. Everyone I know who has used an architect for a straightforward addition like that has regretted it. There are design build firms where the contractor does the design himself and the cost is built in. We were on a tight budget and this is what we did. We did have to be more on top of things ourselves but the end result was great.

The other disadvantage of an architect for a straightforward addition is that he or she will suggest things that might be great but will also add cost.

[Anonymous]

OP here -

Just got another quote from a contractor - very detailed and professional. $110K

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -

Just got another quote from a contractor - very detailed and professional. $110K

If you find anyone reasonable and good, please share (or after you get your project started).

[Anonymous]

we did a renovation like this, everyone including people passing by ask who the architect was and are shocked when we tell them we didn't use one

design build it totally fine.

[Anonymous]

So please... share the name of the design-build firm!! Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here -

Just got another quote from a contractor - very detailed and professional. $110K

If you find anyone reasonable and good, please share (or after you get your project started).

The $ 110k quote came from Keassons contracting.

[Anonymous]

Anyone else using design build firms, particularly ones that work in VA (Arlington) that can recommend firms with reasonable pricing for quality work, we're looking for firms to interview for our project.

Thanks