Ranch homes made their way to California in the 1930s and were tremendously popular through the 1970s, as a dive through many neighborhoods here in the Bay Area will prove. The simple and straightforward design of ranch-style homes makes them ideal for people looking to add an addition. Not sure what addition is the best one for you? We’ve got you covered.
The best and most popular home additions for a ranch-style home in the Bay Area include various room conversions and expansions. This guide will take you through each one, as well as things to consider before deciding on a home renovation and how to make one go as smoothly as possible.
The Best Home Additions for Bay Area Ranch-Style Houses
Ranch-style homes were originally designed with expansion in mind, easily allowing owners to build onto the existing structure as needed or as money allowed. They can be shoebox-sized or rambling affairs and are generally in one of three shapes:
- Rectangle
- L shape
- U shape
There isn’t much you can’t do with a ranch-style house, provided you have the right people to do the job. Let’s look at some of the more popular ranch-home additions people in the Bay Area ask for.
Attic Conversion
Converting an existing attic into a usable space is an easy way to increase your home’s livable square footage without adding to its footprint.
Attics are some of the most underutilized rooms in the home, with many sitting empty or nearly so, collecting cobwebs and dust. Consider converting your attic into:
- An additional bedroom
- A study or home office
- A home gym
- Kids’ play area
- An organized storage area
Be aware, though, that there are usually specific standards that your attic must meet to be up to code as a livable space:
- Most of the ceiling should be at least 7 feet high
- Be at least 70 square feet
- Be accessible by a standard (not pull down) staircase
An experienced contractor will be able to walk you through building code requirements and whether your attic is a good candidate for a conversion. Depending on what you plan to use the converted space for, they’ll also be able to give you an idea of necessary components that you may not have even thought of:
- HVAC
- Wiring
- Insulation
Even seemingly straightforward renovations often contain hidden complications, which is why it’s never a bad idea to consult an expert with experience in your particular type of renovation.
Bathroom Addition
A bathroom addition can drastically improve a house’s livability, especially one that’s home to a large family.
The convenience of an extra bathroom makes the cost worthwhile, which is a good thing since (as can be expected) the price of a bathroom addition in the Bay Area is a bit higher than the national average:
- National Average: $47,427
- San Francisco: $65,360
- San Jose: $63,474
Bear in mind that the prices listed above are for a “midrange” bathroom—there is an infinite number of variables that will affect the total cost:
- Half bath or full bath
- Tiling
- Layout/size
- Bathroom location
Besides adding immediate convenience while you’re living in the home, adding an extra bathroom offers a great return on investment (ROI) if you decide to rent or sell the house later. Market value is definitely something to consider when deciding on home renovations, which we’ll get into later.
Den Addition
Ranch-style homes lend themselves well to additional wings, so adding a space for a den onto the house is usually a fairly straightforward process, as far as extensions go.
When planning your den, consider:
- The den’s intended use: will it be a place for the family to relax after a long day or more of a home movie theatre with surround sound for entertaining visitors?
- The den’s proximity to bedrooms: if noise will be an issue, it’s often a good idea to place the den as far from sleeping areas as possible.
It’s also worth considering whether it’s necessary to add an extension into the home or if it makes more sense to convert an existing space within the house, like the attic, basement, or garage.
Adding a room over the garage or converting a porch or sunroom into a den are other possibilities that might be more cost-efficient than an extension, depending on what you’re looking for.
If you’re unsure where the most logical place for a den is, there’s no harm in scheduling a consultation with a contractor who can make recommendations based on their experience.
Dormer Window
Dormer windows are windows that jut out of an angled roof, like a gable. They can serve several purposes:
- An additional light source in an attic space (which can save the need for wiring, using sunlight instead of lightbulbs)
- Increasing usable space in the attic
- Raising attic ceiling height (which can tick the boxes on building code requirements for livable spaces)
- Improve a home’s curb appeal
- Provide an emergency exit in an attic space
Ranch-style homes lend themselves particularly well to dormer windows, with their plain sloped roofs. Adding a dormer window or two can drastically enhance your home’s look, which is essential in competitive real estate markets like that in the Bay Area.
They’re also less expensive than larger additions, giving you more bang for your buck. That can be a bonus for homeowners looking to renovate on a budget.
Garage Conversion
Converting an existing space is one of the quickest and easiest ways to add livable square footage to your home. Generally, this means converting the attic, basement, or garage.
- Attic
- Basement
- Garage
We’ve already covered attics, and basements aren’t too common in the Bay Area. So that leaves us with the garage. Converting a garage into a room or apartment can provide:
- Noise solution for a rec room or home theatre
- Guest space for visitors
- Independent living for a senior family member
- Potential rental opportunity
Especially considering the Bay Area’s housing market, converting a garage to rent out for even a few years will quickly help a homeowner make back the renovation money.
Converting a garage is a significantly smaller project than building an extension, but there’s still a lot to be done:
- Replacing the garage door with a wall, French doors, or a bay window
- Insulation
- Adding flooring
- Adding wiring
- Adding plumbing
One thing that sounds obvious but is worth pointing out is the loss of storage and parking space if you convert your garage—something to think about if parking in your area is a nightmare.
Kitchen Expansion
If there’s one room in the house where everyone wished there were more room, it’d have to be the kitchen.
A well-designed remodeled kitchen can make better use of the space that’s already there, even expanding out into the living space if the home has an open floor plan. That can end up being more cost-effective than adding an actual kitchen extension, so it’s worth considering.
Another way to put it is that any time you can avoid restructuring an exterior wall, you’re saving yourself money.
But if you’re out of existing space to expand into, including a kitchen addition makes sense. In many cases, adding a partial extension, or “kitchen bump” will give you the space you need without incurring the cost of a full extension.
A kitchen extension can give you space for:
- Larger appliances
- Breakfast nook
- More storage
- Additional counter space
Just a few feet of extra space can make all the difference in the world to the cook in your home, so make sure to investigate all your options. If you’re unsure of the best way to go or what permits are needed, talk to a general contractor for advice.
Master Bedroom Expansion
Another popular room for renovations is the master bedroom, which can never be big enough. Maybe you want room for a king-sized bed, or maybe your partner takes up more than their fair share of the closet, and it’s time for a walk-in.
Whatever reason you have for wanting to expand your master bedroom, there’s plenty of ways to go about doing it, depending on your home’s layout, your budget, and your preferences.
A design-build contractor will be able to help you find the best option for you and walk you through the process from start to finish. Generally, homeowners looking for a master bedroom extension will:
- Add an extension to the house
- Extend into a closet or hallway
- Combine two rooms into one
When deciding on a master bedroom extension, it’s important to remember that just because something works for you doesn’t mean that a new buyer somewhere down the road will like it.
Combining two rooms instead of adding an extension, for example, might save you money in the present but can potentially lead to a lower selling price later since a home with one more bedroom and higher square footage will naturally be worth more.
Second Floor Addition
Ranch-style homes are traditionally single level, but it’s not uncommon for homeowners to add a second floor, which almost doubles a home’s square footage without expanding into the property. This can be useful in Bay Area neighborhoods, where there’s not much room to spread out before running into the neighbors.
As you might imagine, adding a second level to a house is no small undertaking, requiring expert builders and deep pockets. Chances are, you’ll need to live elsewhere while the renovation is happening, too, adding to the expense.
Here are a couple of alternatives to an entire floor addition, which can lessen the expense and potentially eliminate the need to empty the home during the renovation:
- Partial second-floor addition: just what it sounds like—adding a second story over only part of the house; this can be a perfect solution if you need just one more room.
- Adding a second floor over the garage: also what it sounds like—this will almost double your garage’s square footage, be less expensive than adding a second story to the house, and you won’t need to move out to make it happen. Just like the garage conversion, this can be a perfect space for guests or to rent out (but maybe not for elderly family members due to the stairs).
A project this size will go much more smoothly if you hire a design-build contractor to navigate all the red tape involved, not to mention coordinating the different teams needed for the task. If you don’t already have a trusted contractor in your contact list, check out our handy guide to finding a contractor in San Jose or the Bay Area.
Sunroom or Arizona Room Addition
An excellent way to take advantage of California’s beautiful sunny weather, or enjoy the Bay Area fog, is by adding a sunroom or Arizona room to your home. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they’re actually slightly different:
- A sunroom is a closed room with many large glass windows, allowing the sun in, while taking advantage of the climate-controlled house.
- An Arizona room is surrounded by screens—essentially a fully screened-in porch—allowing you to take advantage of summer breezes during hot weather while remaining protected from bugs and direct sun.
Both sunrooms and Arizona rooms are simple additions, and they can often be made by converting an existing porch. Naturally, a sunroom is a bit costlier than an Arizona room since you’ll need to install windows rather than mostly screening. Still, as far as extensions go, these are straightforward.
Depending on how you intend to use the room, you may not even need additional wiring, especially if you’re planning to use it to catch some rays during daylight hours.
Things to Consider Before Adding a Home Addition
Adding a home addition to your house is a big commitment, and it makes sense to consider it from all angles before rushing into something. Below are a few questions you might want to ask yourself before adding onto your home.
Do My County’s Building Codes Allow It?
Of course, even if we own a property, there are basic rules and regulations that we’re required to follow for any structures we’re building or modifying. Building codes regulate things like:
- Minimum setbacks (how far back from a property line the exterior of the home must be)
- Maximum square footage
- Footprint or height restrictions
This is another example of where a design-build contractor comes in handy, taking care of all the paperwork and clearances for you, so nothing gets missed.
Does My HOA Allow It?
Most members of homeowner’s associations will agree that HOA rules are often far stricter than any regulations the government will throw at you. If your neighborhood has one, make sure to run your plans by them before starting.
Will the Foundation or Structure Support the New Load?
This is something your contractor will have to decide with you in the end, but it’s a good thing to keep in mind when you’re in the initial planning stages.
What Is the ROI?
Different renovation projects yield a greater return on investment than others, and it varies from area to area. Before committing to a renovation, check out what people in the Bay Area in general—and your neighborhood in particular—are willing to pay more for. That will increase the chances of selling at a rate high enough to make back some of the renovation costs.
Process of Adding a Home Addition in the Bay Area
Once you’ve passed the initial idea phase of planning a home renovation, it’s time to get the experts involved. In the Bay Area, there are basically two ways to do this:
- Go through the design-bid-build process: hire a designer/architect to draw up plans for the addition. Then hire a builder from a separate company to make the plans a reality.
- Hire a design-build contractor company: which uses in-house architects, designers, and builders who work together.
Because the two companies you’re working with in the design-bid-build process aren’t necessarily on the same page, the process can easily lead to:
- Added or unclear expenses
- Misunderstandings leading to a stalled project
- The added stress of playing liaison between the two companies
Design-build contractor companies, on the other hand, take care of everything for you, using in-house professionals with expertise in:
- Architecture
- Design
- Engineering
- Construction
More importantly, they include a project manager who will coordinate everything and act as your contact person, taking the responsibility off your plate.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the possibilities are virtually endless for ranch-style home additions—you’re really only limited by what you and a skilled contractor can dream up. Your house can be one of the most stunning the Bay Area has ever seen with a little planning and a little hard work from your team.
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