Design Ideas to Get You Started: Making New Concrete Additions to Your Home

Concrete Foundation

Adding an addition to your home can cost twice as much per square foot as remodeling an already existing space. The main reason for this is the foundation.

Building upwards or bumping out space doesn’t usually require pouring a whole new foundation and the new construction can be added to the already existing foundation. In adding a full addition, the earthmoving and concrete pouring needed to create a foundation that will support the new addition can really start upping the costs of your project.

There are different options, though, for the type of foundation that is to be laid which can reduce your overall costs.

Slab

A slab foundation is the least expensive option if your new addition is at grade level and is built similarly to a concrete patio. This style has deep footings around the perimeter of the slab to support the weight of what will be built upon it. It combines the foundation and the floor in one layer of concrete. Insulation (as well as electrical, plumbing, heating, and cooling lines) can all be placed underneath the slab but, because the concrete is also the flooring of the slab, the flooring of your space will most likely be fairly cold.

Full Basement

A full basement is the costliest option when building a new foundation, as it requires the most digging and the most concrete. Oftentimes, the crew will also have to break through the existing foundation to connect the new and old basements together, if a basement already exists. However, the end result of this foundation is a basement space that can easily be converted into a living space, adding extra square footage to your addition.

Crawlspace

If you don’t want to commit to the time and cost of creating a full basement, a less expensive option is to create a crawlspace. This space is essentially a shallower basement that is only a few feet deep. The only sacrifice is that you won’t be able to make this area a full living space in the future as you would with a traditional basement.

Other Design Ideas

If you don’t want to commit to an entirely new addition to your home, there are lots of ways that concrete can be used to revamp the space that you already have! It’s durable, sustainable, and can be molded and dyed to accommodate your project. There are lots of ways to incorporate concrete into your design, including:

Kitchen Countertops
A concrete countertop is made in a single pour, meaning it can be made into any shape and is seamless with no cracks for water or grime to seep into.

Kitchen Sink
A concrete kitchen sink is low-maintenance and long-wearing. It can also dampen the noise of garbage disposals. If you are also going to have concrete countertops, they can work as one continuous element.

Bathroom Tub
A concrete tub can be adapted to whatever size works best for you (though a bigger tub might require additional flooring support) and some manufacturers can even include embedded heat coils within the tubs themselves.

Shower Walls and Floors
Troweled-on concrete flooring or shower walls create a surface that is seamless and waterproof, with no breaks, cracks, or grout to scrub.