What Does a Home Addition Cost?
Many homeowners struggle to determine a realistic budget for their home addition or remodel. As a trusted Design-Build contractor in Pittsburgh, our team at Action Builders can help you get a ballpark idea of what it generally costs to expand your space and stay in the home you love.
A Realistic Budget for Common Pittsburgh Remodels and Additions
Building a new home addition can be one of the most exciting things your family can do together. Before reaching out to a home addition contractor, it’s a good idea to dream a bit and gather your wish list. Ask yourself:
- What do the adults in the household need?
- What do the children need?
- Will aging parents be moving in?
- What spaces will they need to live comfortably?
- What are your must haves?
- What aspects of a remodel would be nice to have?
Once you’ve determined your needs and made your wishlist, start exploring the cost of your home addition wish list. As a design-build contractor, Action Builders can save you money in the long run. Find out the savings benefits of the design-build model and then get an idea of how much budget you need in order to get what you’re looking for.
Average Costs of Most Common Remodels and Home Additions for Pittsburgh Homeowners
Kitchen Addition
Many homeowners just simply need more space in their kitchens. By expanding their home out the back and eliminating middle walls, Action Builders’s specialty is creating open concepts for kitchens and great rooms while keeping a home structurally sound.
Budget Range:
- Minor Kitchen Remodel: $25,000–50,000
- Major Kitchen Remodel: $50,000–$135,000
Cost Factors:
- Finishes — Countertop, Cabinetry, Hardware, Tile, Flooring materials
- Features — Appliances (smart features), Island, Other seating
- Plumbing and Electrical needs
- Size — Add on more space or remodel existing space
More Resources:
Great Room Addition
When families need more living space, they opt for a great room with an open floor plan into the kitchen and dining areas. Great rooms not only offer more room to entertain and relax indoors, but often expand toward outdoor living spaces, adding lots of natural light.
Budget Range:
- $45,000–$115,000
Cost Factors:
- Finishes — Cabinetry, Hardware, Flooring materials
- Features — Furniture, Picture Windows, Energy-Efficient Windows, Entry Door
- Small Space Conversions — Office/Study Space, Coffee/Liquor/Bourbon Bar
- Electrical and Structural needs to support open floor plans
- Size — Add on more space or remodel existing space
More Resources:
Master Bedroom and Ensuite
Parents and empty nesters usually discover their need for a quiet retreat and opt for a new master bedroom as part of their home addition. This may include expanding closet space and adding a master bathroom as well.
Budget Range:
- $100,000–$250,000
Cost Factors:
- Finishes — Shelving and Cabinetry, Countertops, Bathroom Fixtures, Flooring
- Features — Lighting, Walk-in Closet, Shower, Soaking Tub
- Plumbing and Electrical needs
- Size — Add on more space or remodel existing space
- Location — First floor or Second story addition
Bathroom Additions
Most families could always use more bathroom space. Whether it’s a master bath, an extra hall bath on the first floor, or a jack-and-jill bath on the second floor with extra bedrooms, these spaces are great investments to add to your overall home remodel.
Budget Range:
- Half Bath: $15,000–35,000
- Full Bath: $35,000–$90,000
- Multiple Bathrooms (Both Levels): $98,000–$180,000
Cost Factors:
- Finishes — Shelving and Cabinetry, Countertops, Fixtures, Tile, Flooring
- Features — Lighting, Walk-in Closet, Multi-head Shower, Soaking Tub, Steam Room/Sauna, Heated Floors, Towel Warmers
- Plumbing and Electrical needs
- Size — Half bath, power room or hall bath, full bath, master bath
- Location — First floor or Second story addition
More Resources:
Additional Bedrooms
Growing families often require more bedrooms or even guest rooms to welcome family and friends. Extra bedrooms offer more closet space as well as opportunities to add a dormer for study space and a bathroom.
Budget Range:
- $15,000 – $80,000
Cost Factors:
- Finishes — Shelving and Cabinetry, Countertops, Bathroom Fixtures, Flooring
- Features — Lighting, Walk-in Closet, Shower, Dormer (for second floor)
- Plumbing and Electrical needs
- Size — Add on more space or remodel existing space
- Location — First floor or Second story addition
More Resources:
Outdoor Living & Entertainment Spaces
Busy lives and hard work deserve some relaxation — and what better way to do so than an outdoor entertainment space to enjoy with family and friends. They can be as simple as a concrete slab with space for seating or as luxurious as a full outdoor experience with a fireplace and cooking area.
Budget Range: $8,000–$40,000
- Slab or Deck: $8,000–$20,000
- Deck and Pergola: $15,000–$40,000
- Stone Fireplace or Fire Pit: $20,000–$30,000
- Full Outdoor Space: $40,000-$100,000
(including fireplace, TV, cooking space, sitting area, ceiling, storage)
Cost Factors:
- Finishes — Cabinetry, Countertops, Fixtures, Concrete Texture/Coloring, Decking
- Features — Vaulted Ceiling with Fan, Firepit, Outdoor BBQ/Kitchen
- Plumbing and Electrical needs
- Size — Add on more space or remodel existing space
- Location — Ground level deck or Second story balcony addition
Basement Additions
Adding more space on the lower level of your home can be the great solution for more storage, game room, or even bedroom space. Some families opt for a simple basement slab with roughed-in plumbing and electrical that they can finish later, while others tackle the finished project from the get-go.
Budget Range:
- Basement Slab with Rough-in: $20,000–$50,000
- Finish Existing Basement: $50,000 – $125,000
- Finished New Construction Basement: $80,000–$150,000
Cost Factors:
- Types of Rooms (Bathroom, Small Kitchen, Bedrooms, Laundry, etc.)
- Mechanical work and relocation (Plumbing and Electrical)
- Meeting codes (moving or adjust floors, etc.)
- Finished area vs. Rough-in spaces
- Stair Replacement
- Storage and Crawl Space
- Size — Add on more space or remodel existing space
More Resources:
2-Story Rear Home Addition
A common solution for the every-popular Cape Cod home architecture in Pittsburgh is to build a 2-story home addition at the rear of the home. This allows for a larger kitchen and great room space, along with a master bedroom above. Additional bedroom and bathroom space on the second floor may also be included.
Budget Range:
- $150,000-350,000
Cost Factors:
- Levels & Rooms — first floor remodel with 2nd level addition, multi-room additions
- Finishes & Features — Lighting, Flooring, Doors, Closets, Dormers
- Plumbing and Electrical needs
- Size — Add on more space or remodel existing space
- Location — First floor or Second story addition
More Resources:
Whole Home Remodel
When you want to stay in the home you love but just don’t have the function or ample space that makes life at home enjoyable, a whole-home renovation is the right choice. The Action Builders design team can offer great solutions to rearrange your existing space, creating the right function and flow to accommodate your family’s needs.
Budget Range:
- $150,000-350,000
Cost Factors:
- Levels & Rooms — First floor remodel with 2nd level addition, multi-room additions
- Finishes & Features — Lighting, Flooring, Doors, Closets, Dormers
- Plumbing and Electrical needs
- Size — Add on more space or remodel existing space
- Location — First floor or Second story addition
More Resources:
*Average costs for example only. Actual estimates may vary based on your needs.
Need more information about home additions and interior remodeling before pursuing a project?
See our Addition and Remodeling Guides to learn:
- Why hiring a design-builder is in your best interest
- Top projects that solve the biggest problems for Pittsburgh homes (Check out options for Cape Cod homes too!)
- Budget and planning tips to get the best outcome for whole-home renovations or additions
How To Estimate and Finance the Cost of Your Remodel
Estimating the cost of your home remodel is as easy as five simple steps:
- Dream, dream, dream!
- Get an idea of what your dream costs.
- Determine your must haves and priorities.
- Trim your project to match your budget.
- Get your financing.
There are lots of tools and tips available for estimating how much your project could cost. You can find estimates for your particular projects using Cost vs Value in Pittsburgh. You can also check out the host of featured projects in your area that Action Builders has already completed. It’s also important to be mindful of the factors that could add to your budget. Once you’ve trimmed your project to match what you can afford, there are lots of great ways to finance your new home addition and remodel.
Design-Build Construction You Can Trust
When you’re ready to discuss your home addition, Action Builders can offer you great ideas to make the most of your home’s space. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, our team has helped hundreds of homeowners face the challenges of a home addition and expand their space to live, work, and play. They’re able to stay in the home they love, enjoying a beautiful, functional home addition, while being confident that it is structurally-sound.
