Remodeling jobs can be as simple as painting a room or replacing the faucets in the bathroom. They can also be as complicated as tearing down walls, moving window, or adding an entire level to the house.
These more complicated remodels are known as structural changes.
Examples of common structural changes include:
- Adding a new room
- Tearing down walls to make a room larger
- Installing skylights
- Moving windows or doors
- Adding windows
- Turning a one-story home into two
- Finishing a basement
- Removing a room or part of the home
- Adding a bathroom or bedroom
- Adding a vaulted ceiling
Structural changes can be great for your home, or they can cause more problems than they are worth. Before you make any structural changes to your home, consider the following pros and cons.
Pros
Structural changes can add a great deal of value to a home, especially if you are adding a room or level. Structural changes that have the highest rates of return on your investment typically include bathrooms, finished basements, and master suites.
Less expensive than buying a new home. Sometimes, people opt to make large structural changes, like adding a bedroom or two and bathroom, instead of going through the expense and hassle of finding a new home and then moving. Even expensive structural changes that will add more living space are worth it to most people, particularly since it will add value to their home as well as prevent them from moving.
Beautify your home. Structural changes such as new or extra windows, skylights, or turning a ceiling into a vaulted one can add a great deal of aesthetic appeal to your home as well, making it a great investment for many people by adding natural light and more sun to the home, as well as making it appear larger.
Cons
Structural changes are much more costly than simpler home remodels like laying carpet or tile or putting in a new shower. Things like adding a room requires not only framing, drywall, and flooring, but it also requires tearing down the old wall and pouring new foundation and adding an addition onto the roof. Structural changes like these can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Not for the do-it-yourselfer. All though you may be able to do a number of aspects of the project if you are making structural changes, when it comes to roofing, framing, pouring foundation, or tearing walls, these are projects better left for professionals, not the do-it-yourselfer. As a result, you will end up paying for a contractor, which will also add to the overall cost to your project.
Can detract from value. Making structural changes can also detract from the value of your home. For example, if you are adding a room in an odd place, like a bathroom off of a dining room, or if you make changes that don't "match" the overall style of your home (such as a wraparound Victorian-style porch in a contemporary home) you could also be detracting from your resale value.
Structural changes can be a great investment for you and
