I get that you avoid the whole “my yard is now a construction zone” thing, but does it end up being just as disruptive inside?
Honestly, I’d take a torn-up yard over living in a drywall snow globe for months. We did the “build up” thing and our house felt like a maze of plastic sheeting and extension cords. And don’t get me started on the stairs—had to sacrifice a closet and part of the pantry just to fit them. Sometimes I think bumping out is less of a headache, even if your grass takes a beating.
our house felt like a maze of plastic sheeting and extension cords
Yeah, that’s exactly what I remember from our second-story addition. Dust everywhere, and the noise just never stopped. On the flip side, when we bumped out the kitchen last year, the yard was a mess but at least we could close the door on it at night. Did you notice any difference in energy bills after building up? I’ve heard upstairs additions can be trickier to insulate well.
the noise just never stopped
Man, I hear you on that. When we added a second floor, it felt like living in a construction zone for months—dust in places I didn’t even know existed. As for energy bills, yeah, we noticed a bump the first winter. Turns out the new upstairs needed way more insulation than the builder suggested. Ended up adding blown-in cellulose after the fact, which helped a ton. Bumping out is messy, but at least you can shut a door on it... with building up, it’s like the whole house is under siege.
I get where you’re coming from about the disruption when building up, but honestly, bumping out isn’t always as easy to isolate as it sounds. We did a ground-floor extension a couple of years back, and even with plastic sheeting everywhere, the dust still found its way into the rest of the house. Maybe not quite “siege” levels, but definitely more than I expected.
On the energy front, I’d actually argue that bumping out can be trickier if you’re not careful. You’re adding more exterior wall area, which can mean more heat loss if it’s not insulated really well. At least with a second story, you’re stacking space and potentially keeping your footprint smaller—less foundation work, less roof exposed to the elements. There’s also less impact on yard space or landscaping, which was a big factor for us.
Every house is different though... sometimes what sounds easier in theory doesn’t play out that way once construction starts.
Man, the dust is relentless, right? I swear it multiplies overnight. I hear you on the energy thing too—my last bump-out turned into a drafty icebox until I redid the insulation. Did you have any surprise costs pop up mid-project, or was it mostly smooth sailing?
