70 — Friday, January 29, 1999 - North Shore News Planning and skills equal a good addition | ADDITIONS are relatively easy to build, but it takes good planning to get it right, according to the members of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association Renovation Council. An addition can transform your home, making it more spacious, efti- cient and enjoyable. Whether vou want to create a family roan, enlarge a kitchen, add bedrooms or a home office, alk with an experienced reno- sator before you get too far in your planning. Professional renovators will explain exactly what's involved: and help you develop a design that meets your needs, They often begin by mak- ing a sketch of your property, includ- ing buildings and landscaping. Alternatively, vou can make a copy of the survey provided when vou bought your home, A larger sketch of the pro- posed addition for more detailed con- sideration is useful. § Make the most of narural light. Marking the position of the sun throughour the day on the sketch will help to determine the best window and door placements. This will influ- ence the positioning of interior walls, closets, fireplaces and entertainment centres, for instance. Your renovator can advise you on the best type of windows to avoid overheating in the summer and prevent fading of turni- tare fabrics and rugs. B Conneet with the outside. Consider what vou want to see trom inside. You might want a clear view of the children’s play area trom a work area, or be able to smell the flowers right outside your window, Outside doors intended tor regular use should be close to an established traffic path in order to minimize mainrenance, such as snow shoveling. Also think about adequate closer of storage space close fo entrancewas s, @ Consider the traffic flow. A well- planned tattic dow will make the most effective use of your new space. Your renovator will offer sound tdeas for connecting new and existing areas in vour home, or suggest where best to position the door from your new family room to the deck to minimize space lost to trattic flow. Ideally, rat tie Now should not account for more than five to seven percent of the total area. 8 Allow plenty of room for furni- ture. Renovators suggest thar you think about furnishing the addition before tinalizing the plans. On vour sketch, draw the furniture you intend to use. Will it fit? For the family room, for instance, add the fireplace, televi- sion, shelving and cabinets, fs there still enough room? [t's much easier to enlarge the addition ar the planning stage than later. @ Build ona solid soundation. ‘The foundation for your addition is important to the overall quality and lasting value of vour renovation. A professional renovator will explain the options in detail. For instance, placing the addition on piers sunk into: the ground, developing a crawl space, or excavating a full foundation. A simple soil test can provide the necessary information abour the condition of your site, such as whether there is solid: rock two feet below the surtice or unstable soil, The new foundation will also need proper exterior drainage to prevent moisture problems. @ Derermine plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling and ventilation needs. These “inwisible” clements can add up toa sizeable portion of the work and budget, particularily when Kitchens and bathrooms are involved. Your renovator will conduct a thor- ough inspection to determine what modifications or upgrades may be necded to vour evisting systems, and what's required tor vour addition. @ Know the regulations. Manteipal zoning bylaws can attcet sour plans: height restrictions; rear and side-yvard setbacks; percentage of windows to wall area; and even the location of an air-conditioner con- densing unit. Your renovator Knows what information. is required to ensure vour renovation complies with regulanions, and how to get it. B fe the “Tlaak™ together inside and out. A successfull wddition should look as if it was alwass there’ baside, your fenevator may recommend matching or complementary colour, trim and floonng to blend the old and the new. Outside, new siding tor the whele house, repainting, window shutters or jandscaping help to create a harmonious look. @ Ensure access during the work. Your renovator will take a close look at Your property to de ermine if there is enough reom for heavy equipment cen. bockhoe), and what needs to be done outside betore work can begin, such as Moving a fence oF protecting vour girden. A successtul addition takes wood planning and the proper skills. Contact: the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association ar 590- 5256 for a fist of renovators. oF visit the Invernet at . 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