Home addition advice

[Team4LongGun]

All-

I'd like to hear some opinions and advice on what would be must haves in the addition we plan. Its a 24x26 2 story, 1st fl rec room and 2nd floor master bed, bad, closet, with an additional kid bedroom. Stairwell to lower level and pantry if room.

Thinking of a propane stove/heater for 1st floor and cadet heater in bedroom upstairs for heat. Master-maybe a propane fireplace looking thing?

Mini splits for A/C-yes I live on the border and still need AC in summer haha.

It will be built on a crawl space, metal roof to match.

I wanted to hear of some things I should consider, or stay away from.

Thanks in advance-

 

[Catchfish]

My only concern would be access to the master when you’re older. Is this a forever place or just hold you over for awhile. Stairs get tough for old people I hear.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Can't you heat and cool with the mini split? I would avoid the Cadet heaters at all costs. Do a heated tile floor in the master bathroom. Separate his and hers closets are a really nice feature. Gotta have a ceiling fan in the master bedroom.

I would switch the rec room to the upper level and the master suite to the main floor.

 

[Trackerbacker]

(Without knowing basement/soil/lay of the land/location)

Agreed above.

Master on main if you intend to age in place.

Use load bearing roof Trusses for floor '2' (think bonus room) for rec room (pending actual loads: pool table etc).

It's not 2 birds 1 stone, but it's eating your egg laying chicken with an omlette on the side.

 

[Team4LongGun]

Can't you heat and cool with the mini split? I would avoid the Cadet heaters at all costs. Do a heated tile floor in the master bathroom. Separate his and hers closets are a really nice feature. Gotta have a ceiling fan in the master bedroom.

I would switch the rec room to the upper level and the master suite to the main floor.

Great call on the heated tile floor!

Mini splits do heat as well, but even the best units have a cut off for temp. The one we have now says don't use below 15 degrees. Not sure if its just a diminishing return thing based off of efficiency, or it will actually wreck the unit.

 

[Superdoo]

Not sure if it's feasible for you, but take a look at Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF's). Many many benefits when building with them.

 

[wnelson14]

Always go bigger then you think, the cost to add small amounts of sq footage is minimal,
Depending on your house now another bathroom below master bath for rec room,
Or even one thats accessed through outside of this is close to the backyard/shop etc.
Depending on property I would axe the second story like mentioned above and just add more single story

 

[Team4LongGun]

Always go bigger then you think, the cost to add small amounts of sq footage is minimal,
Depending on your house now another bathroom below master bath for rec room,
Or even one thats accessed through outside of this is close to the backyard/shop etc.
Depending on property I would axe the second story like mentioned above and just add more single story

I forgot to mention there will be a half bath downstairs in rec room. We chose to go 2nd story as the existing home is above the garage currently. This, and the epic mountain views are much better up there!

I totally hear you all on the master on first floor, but the way current house is, we wanted to keep all bedrooms on same floor because of kids.

Existing house layout doesn't give us too many options.

 

[hunterjmj]

Since you'll be on a crawl space you could install a furnace with a/c and duct it. We're building a single story this year on a crawl space. I'm going to install a furnace/ac in the crawl. Wood will be primary heat and propane will be backup.

 

[Jon Boy]

I believe they make mini splits that drop to -15 now.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[TSAMP]

My sister just did this exact thing. 24x26 2 story adder with a full basement beneath. They added a second furnace/AC as the main house was also gutted and could do it.

My main thing Is everyone focuses on the interior but now that it's done, from the outside it looks like a old farm house butted up against a giant square. It's obnoxiously obvious and ugly. It was easy to sheet and side but you pay the price with aesthetics..

I'll snap a pic this weekend when I go steal antlers from her backyard.

 

[bobr1]

Great call on the heated tile floor!

Mini splits do heat as well, but even the best units have a cut off for temp. The one we have now says don't use below 15 degrees. Not sure if its just a diminishing return thing based off of efficiency, or it will actually wreck the unit.

Not sure where you are but I’m in Montana and my mini split is my primary heating and cooling system. Have a Mitsubishi hyper heat, it’s good down to -15. Only time it has been struggling is when we dip below that and there is bad wind which is
Just sucking heating from the house. I was reading they have some that are working below -20 now. Anyway
Just my 2 cents

 

[Team4LongGun]

Did they keep the same gable ends? I could see how that would be funny looking, like a long apartment complex.
Our addition will be perpendicular to existing roof line. Would like to see the photo-thanks.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Great call on the heated tile floor!

Mini splits do heat as well, but even the best units have a cut off for temp. The one we have now says don't use below 15 degrees. Not sure if its just a diminishing return thing based off of efficiency, or it will actually wreck the unit.

I forgot you were way up north. Put a furnace in the attic. Put your registers in the ceiling instead of the floor so the air blows down and you don't get dirt and debris in them. They also won't end up right where you want to put a chair leg.