COTATI — When planning a home addition, even the most practical ideas can be complicated by issues regarding functional feasibility. Here are a couple aspects that can factor into the viability of your home addition project:
Roof line
One important consideration is whether your home’s roof can be properly adjusted to accommodate the new addition. Expanding or adding on to your home entails an extension of the roof line, and since one of a roof’s main functions is to divert water, it’s crucial to make sure this extension can be functionally incorporated into the roof’s overall design. Otherwise, you could end up with an expensive water trap.
Property line setbacks
Many homeowners think they can feasibly extend their homes to the utmost edges of their properties, but this isn’t the case. Property line setbacks are boundaries within a property that limit the expansion of a home’s square footage, ensuring a minimum proximity between neighboring houses to reduce the risk of fire spreading. If you’re unsure about where your property line setbacks are located, contact your local building department.