Home Additions More space without moving — designed, built, and integrated as if it always belonged.

Addition cost varies dramatically by type, size, finishes, and complexity. Small bump-outs (100-200 sq ft) are the most affordable. Single-room additions (300-500 sq ft) mid-range. Master suites and family rooms (500-800 sq ft) higher. Full second-story additions and full wings are the highest absolute cost projects. Per-square-foot costs roughly track kitchen/bath density — bedroom additions less expensive per sq ft than additions including kitchens or bathrooms. Detailed estimates provided after design consultation.

Total project timeline including design and permits typically runs 4-12 months. Design phase: 6-10 weeks. Permits: 4-8 weeks (sometimes longer with HOA or historic). Construction: 3-9 months depending on size and complexity. Small bump-outs can complete in 4-6 months total. Large second-story additions or wings run 9-12 months. Weather and permit delays can extend timelines.

For most additions, yes — you can stay in your existing home while the new addition is built. The new construction happens outside your existing walls. There’s typically one “tie-in” period of 1-2 weeks where existing walls are opened up to connect spaces — during this time you may want to be elsewhere or live in the unaffected parts of the house. Second-story additions require more disruption since roofs come off, but planning helps.

For most additions over 200 sq ft, yes — stamped architectural drawings are required for building permits in MA. We can coordinate with architects we work with regularly, or in some cases, we can produce in-house designs for permit submission if your project is straightforward. Smaller bump-outs may not require formal architectural plans. We confirm during initial consultation.

Every MA town has its own zoning bylaws regulating setbacks (distance from property lines), lot coverage maximums, height limits, and floor area ratio (FAR). Some towns are restrictive on lot coverage and require variances for additions. We do a zoning feasibility check early in the design process — before you spend money on detailed plans for an addition that can’t be permitted.

That’s the goal of every addition we build. We match siding type, color, roof pitch, window styles, trim profiles, and architectural details. Existing house painted? We can repaint the existing exterior to match the new addition for unified appearance. Some details (older siding profiles, original brick) require sourcing or custom work — we handle that.

An addition extends your house — same legal property, same household, same systems. An ADU (accessory dwelling unit) is a separate legal dwelling — own kitchen, bathroom, entrance, often own meter. ADUs can be rented out legally; additions are part of your single-family home. MA’s 2024 Affordable Homes Act made ADUs by-right in most towns. Some additions can be designed to potentially convert to ADUs later.

Yes, but tight lots constrain design options. Setback requirements limit how close to property lines you can build. We work within zoning constraints to maximize the addition possible. Some lots require zoning variances — additional time and approval risk but often successful. We assess feasibility upfront.

Homes in historic districts require Historic Commission approval before exterior changes. Design must respect historic character — matching materials, profiles, scale. Approval can add 4-8 weeks to timelines. We’ve handled historic district additions and know how to design proposals that get approved.

Call (508) 925-0396 or submit the quote form. The first step is a free in-home consultation where we walk your property, discuss your needs and budget, do a quick zoning feasibility check, and outline next steps. Serious projects move to schematic design after the initial consultation. Most clients are 6-12 months from move-in to their new addition.