7 costs that could jeopardize your home bump-out plans

September 19, 2023

A bump-out addition is a small add-on to a home that doesn’t qualify as a full-blown addition. A bump-out can consist of a jutted-out section of a home two or three feet or it can be the same size as a regular room.

Some small bump-outs are cantilevered from the house, meaning an existing foundation doesn’t support them. They may hang off the side of your home, and it may not have to tie into the existing roofline.

A bump-out can add more space than you think. For example, a two-foot bump-out in a 20-foot room gives you 40 extra square feet of space.

Image Credit: skynesher/istockphoto.

Suggested Uses of a Bump-Out Addition

You may want to consider adding a bump-out addition to several locations in your home, such as:

Kitchen: You can use a bump-out addition to extend the kitchen counter, add space for an appliance, install an island, incorporate a breakfast nook or dining area, or add a cooking area.
Bedroom: A bump-out addition could accommodate a window seat, build out an existing bedroom suite, or add a bathroom or walk-in closet to a suite.
Bathroom: An addition could include adding a bathtub or new shower to an existing space or separating your bathtub from your shower.
Living space: You can make more space in a smaller room for another living space, such as a TV room, home office, playroom, or living room.

(Learn more: Personal Loan Calculator)

Image Credit: skynesher/istockphoto.

Costs of Building a Bump-Out

A bump-out costs between $85 and $210 per square foot on average. The total cost is generally between $1,700 and $18,900, depending on the size of the bump-out and what all adding one entails. Below are some examples of price ranges based on square footage:

20 square feet: $1,700 to $4,200
30 square feet: $2,500 to $6,300
40 square feet: $3,400 to $8,400
90 square feet: $7,650 to $18,900

A bump-out addition is less expensive than adding an entire new room, though. A new room may require plumbing, foundation work, extra insulation, and any other materials required to build a full-scale addition.

Image Credit: Delmaine Donson/istockphoto.

Factors That Impact Bump-Out Costs

Several factors impact the cost of your bump-out, including whether you choose high-end or basic finishes. The main factors that affect bump-out costs include:

Flooring: The type of flooring you choose may affect your costs. For example, if you choose natural stone, exotic hardwoods, or high-end designer carpeting, you will pay more than simple laminate flooring. You can expect to pay between $1,500 and $4,500, with an average of $3,000, to cover 500 square feet.
Decoration: It costs about $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot to paint an interior wall, and hiring a professional painter will cost more, about $2 to $6 per square foot. Beyond that, you may want to add furniture, wall art, and decor, which will make up the bulk of your costs.
Windows: The average cost of windows runs between $3,500 and $15,000. Of course, the cost depends on the brand, size, material, type, and style.
Electrical work: A simple electric wiring project can cost about $500, plus labor and permits, depending on the scope of the project and the wiring accessibility.
Interior design: Interior designers typically charge between $50 and $500 per hour, depending on their experience level. You may pay around $5,200 in design fees, which doesn’t include the cost of furniture and decor.
Siding: You’ll also need to add siding, soffit, and fascia to match the original exterior of your house. New siding costs between $2 and $9 per square foot and up to $50 for materials like brick and stone. It might be hard to match the original vinyl siding or stone, so consider using a different material altogether.
Roofing: You may need to extend or cover the roof of your bump-out, and the typical cost runs about $50 to $85 per foot.

If you’re using a general contractor, they will charge a fee, too. General contractors typically charge 10% to 20% of your project’s total cost.

Image Credit: mapo/istockphoto.

How Big Can You Make a Bump-Out?

Your contractor can bump a house out about three feet and as long as 10 to 12 feet, assuming it doesn’t run into the landscape outside of your home or affect another area of the house, such as encroaching on window space. Work with your contractor to ensure you have the right “look” for your bump-out.

Also, it’s a good idea to check with your homeowners association prior to making any changes. They may have specific rules as to how far your home can extend outwards.

Image Credit: Jelena Danilovic/istockphoto.

Financing a Bump-Out Addition

If you don’t have the cash to pay for the bump-out addition, consider various ways to finance your bump-out.

Home equity loan or second mortgage: You can tap into your home’s equity with a home equity loan, also called a second mortgage. Your equity is the amount of home that you own — not the part you still owe to the bank. Your home equity lender gives you money in a lump sum and you repay it in installments with a fixed interest rate. A home equity loan uses your home as collateral, meaning the lender can foreclose on your property if you stop repaying your loan.
Credit cards: Credit cards can also finance a bump-out addition. By paying with a credit card, you may earn rewards, cash back, points, or miles on the cost of your bump-out addition. Some credit cards offer a 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR), the yearly interest you’ll pay to use the card. Evaluate the best credit cards so you avoid getting stuck with high-interest credit card debt later on.
Home equity line of credit (HELOC): A HELOC, another type of second mortgage, allows you to continue borrowing against your home equity. HELOCs work similarly to credit cards, where you draw on the money, pay it back, and can then draw on it again. Like a home equity loan, a HELOC uses your home as collateral.
Personal loan: Personal loans for home improvement can also help you finance your bump-out addition. Your lender will give you the money in a lump sum, and once you use it for your bump-out, you repay the loan with interest in monthly installments. You must qualify for a personal loan with certain credentials, such as your credit score and income. A personal loan does not require you to put your home up as collateral.

Image Credit: andresr/istockphoto.

The Takeaway

If you want your home to have a new fireplace in the living room, a bathroom upgrade, or another refresh, a bump-out might be the answer.

Consider all the pros and cons of adding a bump-out addition to your home and think through bump-out addition costs by getting a contractor from your local area to help you. When it comes time to pay for your bump-out, consider tapping into your savings account or looking into various financing options.

This article originally appeared on SoFi.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

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