Family Room Addition Cost

How Much Does a Family Room Addition Cost?

Low: DIY Additions Can Run $10,000-$20,000

Medium: Conversions Can Run $1,000-$50,000

High: Additions Can Run $30,000-$75,000+

Adding a family room can provide space to stretch out and live, with room for toys, homework, a media center, computer games or whatever family members need.

Typical costs:

Converting an existing garage or basement into a family room runs anywhere from $200 -$5,000 or more for a do-it-yourself project, but hiring some to build it can be $7,500 -$50,000 or more depending on the size and condition of the existing space; the quality of chosen fixtures and features such as lighting, flooring and wall treatments; whether the project includes a bathroom; and local labor rates.
As a do-it-yourself project, adding new floor space for a family room requires a wide range of high-level handyman skills and runs about $25 -$50 a square foot, depending on complexity and materials, or about $10,000 -$20,000 for a 16x25-foot room (400 square feet). A Michigan homeowner spent less than $10,000 for a 20x14-foot family room.
Hiring a contractor to build a family room addition can run $75 -$250 a square foot, depending on complexity, materials and local labor rates, or $30,000 -$100,000 for a 16x25-foot room. However, costs can go as high as $300 -$500 or more a square foot for extremely complex and luxurious projects. A California family paid $33,300 for a simple rectangular 20x12-foot (240 square feet) family room, or about $139 a square foot. In contrast, an annual cost survey by industry magazine RemodelingOnline says the price of a 16x25-foot family room addition on a crawl space foundation with vinyl siding, atrium-style exterior doors and two operable skylights averages around $76,800 in the Midwest, $77,600 along the East Coast and $84,000 in the West. These survey prices are averages for projects using good- to high-quality materials, with the work performed by a skilled and licensed remodeling company.

What should be included:

If adding floor space, check with your local planning department to be sure the expansion is allowed in your area. Better Homes and Gardens provides an overview of legal remodeling requirements.
RemodelOrMove.com explains how to decide if a family room addition is right for you. ThisOldHouse.com gives an overview of a successful family room addition.

Additional costs:

Unless it's a simple conversion of existing space, you'll need blueprints for the addition. Hiring an architect to create a set of plan drawings could cost you a flat fee of $700 -$10,000 or more, depending on size and complexity, or the architect may charge 5-15 percent of the project's costs.
Books about how to plan (and survive) a home addition run $10 -$35 or more, or may be available at your local library.
Before anyone starts cutting into the drywall to expand your home, realize that construction dust is going to be everywhere. Rent a self-storage locker for anywhere from $40 -$230 a month for your cherished possessions, and cover larger items (and as much of your house as possible) with plastic. You might want to go on vacation, stay with friends or rent a motel room for the worst of the construction process.
Usually an addition will trigger a reassessment of your property taxes and a resulting tax increase, but in most areas the reassessment will only be on the value of the addition, not for your entire house. A large addition may also increase the cost of your monthly utility bills.

Shopping for a family room addition:

Gather examples of family room designs and details that appeal to you; RemodelingCenter.com displays a family room slide show.
Even if you want to do most of the work yourself, unless you're extremely skilled most experts recommend hiring a licensed electrician, who should pull any necessary permits and arrange for required inspections. Referrals are available through the National Electrical Contractors Association.
To hire a remodeling contractor to handle all aspects of your family room addition, the National Association for the Remodeling Industry provides an online booklet with tips for hiring a contractors, as well as contractor referrals.
Verify that the contractor is licensed in your state, and if there are any complaints with the Better Business Bureau. A written contract should include a detailed outline of the work required and materials used, dates within which the project will be done, and a payment schedule.