subject: How Much Does It Cost per Square Foot To Build an Addition on a House? by Randy Mate [print this page] That depends on which square foot you're talking about. The square foot where the new commercial-grade refrigerator sits will cost about $600, and a square foot of the new driveway will cost about $3. Averaging these two together yields $301.50 per square foot.
The point is, numbers can be deceiving, and none more so than a "rule of thumb" number such as the average remodeling cost per square foot. Remodel jobs are like children, there aren't any average ones. Cost really depends on many variables.
Among these are size, level of finish, number of stories, ease of access, type of room, and complexity of tie-in with the existing house. In general, the larger the project, the less it costs per square foot, because there is an economy of scale, the first foot costs the most. Likewise, it us usually cheaper to build on two levels instead of one, assuming the square footage is the same, because the roof, excavation, and foundation are only about half as large.
Unfinished garages cost less to build than kitchens and master bathrooms. But, the garage is not free. And this is an important point, because some architects overlook that fact when they calculate costs on a per-foot basis, counting only "finished livable" footage in their cost calculations.
To get a better handle on the costs, you will need at least. . . a schematic-level design and outline specifications. Design/build contractors and architects typically charge approximately 2 to 3% of the total budget to get to this point (about one third the total cost, 10% for complete design/architectural services). For this fee, you should get a feasibility study with several design ideas, and fairly accurate cost estimate.
How Much Does It Cost per Square Foot To Build an Addition on a House? by Randy Mate
