Preparing For Home Additions in Virginia

So you have decided to go ahead with one or more home additions. In Virginia, there are plenty of architects and designers that can bring you closer to this goal. In anticipation of the work actually beginning, you may ask yourself what you can do to help the project begin as smoothly as possible, and just prepare in general for the arrival of a whole construction crew.

Staging the Yard

In all likelihood, your addition is going to invade some portion of your existing yard. Add to the space that the crew is going to need to set up their work and move supplies around, and you might as well clean up the whole yard, just to be safe.

• Anything that can be moved off of the lawn should be. All toys, grills, outdoor furniture and other such debris must be kept indoors or in the garage.
• If the area where the addition is going to go up has shrubs or other landscaping in front of it, consider removing all of it. A direct path to the work site is a necessity for the crew. It can be quite a bit of work, but if you are up to the challenge it can save you time and money.
• Alert all of your utility companies that you need them to mark all of their lines on your property. This is a wise step to take even if you are not excavating the ground, as it will let the crew know which areas to avoid.

Interior Preparation

Most additions are constructed in one of two ways. Either the entire existing wall between the space that will become the addition is knocked out, or a smaller opening just for a door is made in the wall to allow entry into the new room. Whichever method is used, it is all but impossible to keep all of the dust and small debris from finding their way into the rest of the house. You can however take steps to severely reduce the amount of foreign matter that enters your home.

• Invest in rolls of thick plastic sheeting and hang strips from the ceiling to the floor as a way to block dust. It is imperative that they not block the crew from the work, however.
• Laying down carpet scraps that can be purchased fairly cheaply at carpet stores is a brilliant way to reduce damage to your existing floors. Lay them down wherever the contractors pass through to reduce the mud and dirt mess.
• Empty as much of the furniture from the rooms nearby the construction as possible. Building an addition is a big job that can have unexpected occurrences. You will rest easier knowing that your things are safely out of a potential path of destruction.

Prepare Your Mind

A major home improvement project like a home addition isn’t going to go up overnight. If the schedule extends through holidays or inclement weather the remodel can take even longer than expected. This frustrating situation is normal, and you shouldn’t let it get to you. You might also find that the mess generated by a major renovation is a little more than you can take, but try to relax and let the work continue, it will be over before you know it, and all worth it in the end. Your general contractor should have experience with home additions in Virginia, which will also put you mind at ease.