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If anyone has gone through the process of building a small starter home that was designed from the beginning for future expansion, I would appreciate hearing your thoughts about how to make this approach work best.
What we have in mind is a house that might be as small as 700-800 sf, but would later be expanded to perhaps 2000 sf.
I am assuming that it would be less expensive to put in all of the infrastructure for the big house on the initial build.
If it matters, we're quite sure we will be going the woodless Castleblock way.
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Rob probably is your best answer on this.
Which way will your future expansion be - out or up, or both?
Catherine Dumond
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Whatever you want to build now will have to be submitted to the Building Department and finalized. When you want to expand you will have to submit the architect-stamped expansion plans to the Building Department to do the expansion. Overall, it will cost you more with this approach than building the larger house now.
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That's the kind of question I'd like some guidance on, Catherine! It seems like there are at least four options: (1) Turn a one-story building into a two-story building; (2) Have a two-story (maybe wide but not deep) house that gets a wing added to it later; (3) put a small structure deeper on the lot that becomes that backside of a larger home; (4) have a multiple-building compound (with shared roof to satisfy permit requirements), with the first building being one of the structures.
I'm sure there are other possibilities as well.
We know that we eventually want a two store home to capture ocean views. That's the one constraint.
John--thanks for explaining the permit requirements.
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my friend just built his house. for future add ons he will build above the garage. he has a metal roof and it will be a pretty easy job.
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Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but to start, put in a septic to support the number of bedrooms you're shooting for. I have a 3 bedroom septic for a 480' house (efficiency dwelling).
Bedrooms can be up to 50' from the house, and not necessarily joined.
A 1/2 bath can go into each bedroom, just assure you're high enough for fall (sewage).
Seemed strange to me too, but I believe that's how it is.
Gordon J Tilley
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Years ago, there were expandable cabin plans that started with a studio floor plan, then more bedrooms, baths, and a larger living room could be added. The studio morphed into the master bath and bedroom in the fully expanded plan. The first kitchen may have lost a wall later. Start with adequate roof heights for adding rooms. Keep track of your underground plumbing for later building on top of those pipes. Start with a conveniently located and fully sized electrical box.
Plan B is to use the first structure as an ohana connected by a garage or covered patio to the second structure. Check zoning for that in your neighborhood.
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Some folks have been building their guest house first. They build a small - less than 500 square feet - "guest house" except it is permitted as their main residence. Later, when they want to build their bigger house, they do a "change in use" permit on the original building to change it to a Guest House and then build their new bigger residence. To change their first structure into a Guest House they usually have to remove one of the major kitchen appliances, usually the stove.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
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quote:
Originally posted by Hotzcatz
Some folks have been building their guest house first. They build a small - less than 500 square feet - "guest house" except it is permitted as their main residence. Later, when they want to build their bigger house, they do a "change in use" permit on the original building to change it to a Guest House and then build their new bigger residence. To change their first structure into a Guest House they usually have to remove one of the major kitchen appliances, usually the stove.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
We have talked about a version of this idea, where the guest house becomes the kitchen and dining room. Thanks for the ideas!
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Aloha hpp4me!
A good visual example of most of these ideas is located on Paradise Ala Kai - oceanside. Friends are building a little at a time - garage is up and the roof just STOPS (totally finished); where it will latter connect to the house. They also have a guest house up to live in, that will probably be connected with a covered lanai. If your on island check it out.
"Each thing I do I rush through so I can do something else" - Cemetery Nights/Stephen Dobyns
