by Debra on Friday, November 7, 2008
Those considering making renovations to their homes are often plagued by doubts. They know what they want, and yet they’re afraid that their dream home may not have resell value in the future.
Many people will suggest that you renovate raised ranch homes to suit yourself rather than worrying about how well it will sell years down the road.
Knowing ahead of time how long you plan to remain in your home may make renovation decisions easier to make. If you plan on remaining in the home for a number of years, you’ll feel freer to make changes to suit yourself.
When you’re relatively sure you won’t be staying in your home more than a year or two, you may be less willing to make changes that won’t necessarily bring higher dollars on the sale.
If you plan to add on to your ranch house, try to use similar materials that were originally used in the house unless you plan on completely redoing the exterior. This will help maintain the character of the original house as well as keeping some of the outside elements.
Remember the basics.
When you renovate raised ranch houses, it is probably better to avoid thinking horizontal if you want to add on. Instead, try adding onto the rear of the house especially if the visual from the curb is already a long box. It would also be better to have an additions offset rather than plunked down at one end or the other.
In some cases it is alright to add onto the end of a raised ranch if it is a true split level house. It would be best, if you’re going to add onto one side of the house, that you also increase the window size nearest the addition. This will help the curb appeal and make the house not look lopsided.
Another option for adding onto the length rather than onto the back of the house is to incorporate the built-in garage into the actual living space. You can then build a new garage onto the opposite side of living area which will create a more of a symmetrical look rather than an asymmetrical one. Of course, if you move the garage, don’t forget to redo the driveway as well.
Check with the local building ordinances in your city or town. They may have restrictions to the type of additions that can be made on particular models of homes. It is also a good idea to have an idea of what you would like to do and then talk with an architect.
Your primary goal is to maintain the curb appeal when you renovate raised ranch houses in addition to giving you more space. Talk with an architect and listen to their suggestions. The ideas you have may be great, but then again they may be better left on the paper.
When you renovate raised ranch homes you want to maintain the integrity of the house without destroying the look of it. There are ways to make renovations that will help the curb appeal and things that you can do to destroy it. Your best bet is to look, listen, and then decide what is best for your renovate raised ranch style house.
Ranches: Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling, and Building New
photo credit: Yme Bosma photo credit: jared703 photo credit: Simon Davison
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by Debra on Wednesday, October 29, 2008
photo credit: edgygrrrl
Homeowners of ranch style houses appreciate the simplicity of the floor plan. This one-story plan makes living easier for those with limited mobility. However, they may consider ranch house addition designs to enlarge the house to better fit their needs.
Ranch houses are typically twice as long as they are wide, or very close to those measurements. A common size for a ranch style house would be 28 feet wide by 50 feet long, including a built-in garage. The houses are often laid out with bedrooms to one side of the floor plan and the remainder of the living space is to the other side.
When considering ranch house addition designs some homeowners look into the prospects of building a second story on their home, at least at the end where the bedrooms are located. While building up won’t take up any of your yard space, especially if your lot is small, it may not be the best course of action.
Building a second floor onto a house will require that the roof be removed so the second story can be added. This could mean you would have to live in your living room or in a hotel until the upper level is dried in. If you have children it may upset them to see their home being torn apart despite the fact they will have more room when the renovations are finished. Second floor additions are also harder to recoup your money from if you don’t plan to remain in your home for more than a few years.
Homeowners may also consider ranch house addition designs that simply knock out a wall to put on the addition. This type of renovation will only require that one or two rooms be inconvenienced during the renovation, but the addition will take up considerably more lawn space. If you plan to live in the home after you retire, this may be a better option for you.
Finally, the other option for ranch house addition designs is to enclose the built-in garage. For those with limited capital to make the changes this may be the best option. You won’t have to knock out any walls and the roof is already in place so you won’t have to worry about weather delaying the work.
Check out some books about ranch style houses from the library or pick up a few magazines that show pictures of additions similar to those you would like to make. This literature can help you choose the best floor plan addition for your ranch house.
Ranch house addition designs are a popular way to give your home more space. Knowing ahead of time what you’d like and where you’d like to place the addition will help the architect design the renovation to meet your needs and your budget.
Home Addition & Renovation Project Costs: Planning & Estimating Successful Projects
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by Debra on Wednesday, October 22, 2008
You’ve finally decided to take the plunge and update your home. A raised ranch home renovation is something to consider carefully. Since there are stairs involved in your raised ranch home, renovation may seem like an impossibility.
With a raised ranch house, the foyer is on the ground level of the home. Nearly one dozen stairs are opposite the entryway door that leads to the main living area on the second floor. Some raised ranch houses have a balcony on the outside of the house that will enter directly onto the living area.
Even though the house has differing levels, it is very much similar to the asymmetrical floor plan of the traditional ranch house. There will be a low pitched roof, deep set eves, and an attached garage. Quite often the bedrooms are on the lower level.
When considering How to Renovate a Raised Ranch Home, remember that there’s no reason that the stairs have to be a problem for you. If the stairs are on the exterior, you may be able to change the look of your home by landscaping it differently.
Staircases can be moved with some planning. Be sure to get help from a structural engineer if this is something you’ve thought about. Should you decide to leave the staircases where they currently are, you can revise the entryway by changing out the doors or adding windows along the door to brighten the area.
Raise the ceiling and leave the beams exposed. You may also like to open up the rooms to create a great room. Add a fireplace to get the look of a lodge.
Expand the master bedroom to create a suite instead of having a simple sleeping area. Move non-weight bearing walls to enlarge the room and add a seating area. Since older homes aren’t known for having large closets, after you’ve moved the wall you can create the walk-in-closet you’ve always wanted.
Get the help of a qualified architect or contractor when deciding which renovations are best for your raised ranch home. They will be able to tell you whether the renovations you want to make are structurally sound or not. An architect or contractor may also be able to give you some ideas you hadn’t considered.
Don’t be afraid to renovate or make changes to your house. Think about the changes you’d like to make and then speak to experts to get the best advice. The changes may take a while to complete but the time and effort are sure to be worth it.
Remember not to go too crazy when it comes to raised ranch home renovations. Keeping with the home’s original style may be a better choice than trying to make too many changes all at once.
Ranches: Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling, and Building New
photo credit: saturnism
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