Studio21 Architects

You most likely will not be required to add a fire sprinkler system. Each municipality has its own requirements for when fire sprinklers are required. Some communities require them only for new home construction, others require them if you are building a significant addition. It is best to check with the village. Almost every community will require you to update the home with interconnected smoke detectors in every bedroom and combination smoke and carbon dioxide detectors on every floor of the home.

A rule of thumb is that you obviously don’t want to over improve for the neighborhood. Other factors would include the structural integrity of your current home and if the layout is conducive to what you want to achieve. Studio21 Architects provides our Design Discovery Review which is a low cost preliminary investigation that can help answer these questions.

This is one of the most frequently asked questions and also the most difficult to answer because there are so many variables. However, most people need to have a rough idea in order to see if a project is feasible within their budget. For new construction, we tell people to budget $200.00 ~ $250.00 per square foot. The geometry of the home, amenities, and site conditions all influence the cost. It is best to have your architect perform a more informed cost estimate after preliminary plans are prepared.

I would plan about 9 - 12 months, depending on the size and complexity of the addition from start to finish. If done properly, the design and construction documents can take 3 to 4 months to prepare. The building department will take 1 - 2 months to review and approve the plans to issue a building permit. The actual construction can then take anywhere from 4 to 6 months to complete. Of course, every situation is different but these are good numbers to use for planning purposes.