Many homeowners eventually find that their home is just a little too small. In a slow real estate market adding on to your existing home rather than selling up and moving on can make a lot of sense. But which is better, finishing a basement or attic or having a brand new room extension built from scratch? It all depends very much upon your home itself and the budget you have to work with. Here are some of the pros and cons of each option.

Basement Remodeling – An unfinished basement is a blank canvas, a large space that can be converted to serve an almost endless number of purposes. From an extra bedroom to a games or media room, or even a home gym, the possibilities are often limited only by your budget.

The biggest problem many people encounter when remodeling a basement is damp. The majority of unfinished basements have some type of moisture problem which must be addressed before remodeling begins in earnest. A good remodeling professional can help, advising on the best methods to dry the area out and then ensure it stays that way.

Attic Remodeling – Attic remodeling often presents even more of a challenge than making over a basement. Lower roof areas must be compensated for, so that the new room is both attractive and safe. The floor in the attic may need to be reinforced or replaced as well, in order to be able to stand up to the increased foot traffic that adding a new room will bring.

You will, of course, also probably need to add a staircase to make the room fully functional. A traditional staircase can eat up between 10 and 15 feet of space on the floor below the attic, so installing one may defeat the point of remodeling to add space. On the other hand, a spiral staircase  takes up far less room, only about five feet, so may be a better option.

Room Additions – Building out from your existing home and creating an entirely new space is probably the most expensive of all these options but, done properly, it will usually add considerably more to the value of your home. One of the most popular ways of adding square footage to a home these days is by having a sunroom or enclosed patio constructed. While such rooms may not be suitable for certain purposes, a bedroom for instance, they can provide a great new place for the entire family to gather and socialize in comfort.

When building a room addition, the assistance of a remodeling professional is essential. Whichever area of the country you live in there will always be planning permission issues and construction standards to be met. A good remodeling professional will be able to ensure that all these requirements are dealt with properly and that your new construction will not upset the neighbors or the local building authorities.