DRYWALL DUST IS THE WORST
You nailed it—drywall dust is relentless. I’ve done my fair share of renos and no matter how many towels, sheets, or plastic barriers you throw at it, that stuff sneaks into every corner. Covering shelves and dishes is a lifesaver, even if it looks like a haunted house for a week. I’ll admit, I used to think I could just “clean as I go,” but after finding dust in my toaster months later, I’m a convert to your method. It’s not glamorous, but it saves your sanity.
I hear you on the dust—after our kitchen addition, I was still finding it in the weirdest spots months later. When we were deciding between bumping out or building up, I leaned toward bumping out just to avoid even more mess inside. Our house is from the 1920s and honestly, adding a second story felt riskier structurally (and pricier, with all the reinforcing). Bumping out meant less disruption upstairs and we could seal off the work area better. Still dusty, but at least my bedroom didn’t look like a construction zone.
If your place is older, I'd check what’s possible with your foundation before going up. Also, consider how much you want to live through—living in a dust cloud vs. having the chaos mostly outside. In hindsight, I’d do a bump out again, even if it meant sacrificing a bit of yard space. Less drywall dust in my cereal that way...
Totally get where you’re coming from—dust just finds its way everywhere, doesn’t it? We did a bump out on our 1940s place for similar reasons. I remember thinking, “How is there drywall dust in my sock drawer?” I agree, giving up a bit of yard was worth not having to move out or live in a construction zone. Did you find the bump out changed how you use your yard much, or was it not a big deal in the end?
We did a bump out on our last place and honestly, I was worried about losing yard space too. But after a few months, I barely noticed the difference. The extra room inside made up for it, and we still had enough yard for a grill and a small garden. The only thing I missed was a bit of shade from a tree we had to take out, but overall, it was worth it.
Bumping Out Eats Up Yard Space Faster Than You Think
The extra room inside made up for it, and we still had enough yard for a grill and a small garden.
I totally get the appeal of a bump out, but I always wonder about the long-term trade-offs. Did you find the loss of that tree changed how you used the yard? Sometimes, even a small reduction in outdoor space can shift how a home feels—especially if you have kids or pets. Have you ever thought about building up instead, just to keep that green space? I’ve seen clients regret losing mature trees more than they expected... shade is hard to replace.