--- title: Why Investing in Home Additions is Better Than Buying New description: Custom home additions & renovation pack a lot of quality into a small area. New construction, spreads the cost of the most expensive rooms over extensive square footage image: https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/blog-images/architects-rendition.jpg --- [![Gilday](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/theme2021/images/gilday-logo-white.png) ](https://www.gilday.com/) [ 301.565.4600 ](tel:301.565.4600) - [About Us](https://www.gilday.com/about-gilday-renovations) - [About](https://www.gilday.com/about-gilday-renovations) - [Architects & Designers](https://www.gilday.com/architects-designers) - [Administration](https://www.gilday.com/administration) - [Production & Construction](https://www.gilday.com/production-team) - [Careers](https://www.gilday.com/careers) - [Awards](https://www.gilday.com/awards) - [What Our Clients Say](https://www.gilday.com/gilday-renovation-reviews) - [Press](https://www.gilday.com/press) - Service Area - [Arlington VA](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-arlington-va) - [Alexandria VA](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-alexandria-va) - [Bethesda MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-bethesda-md) - [Chevy Chase MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-chevy-chase-md) - [Cleveland Park DC](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-cleveland-park-dc) - [Kensington MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-kensington-md) - [McLean VA](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-mclean-va) - [Potomac MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-potomac-md) - [Rockville MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-rockville-md) - [Washington DC](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-washington-dc) - [Portfolio](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio) - [Additions](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#additions) - [Kitchens](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#kitchens) - [Baths](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#baths) - [Whole House Renovations](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#wholehouse) - Services - [Home Remodeling the Design Build Way](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-the-design-build-way) - [Renovation Architect Services](https://www.gilday.com/renovation-architect-services-gilday-renovations) - [Whole-Home Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/whole-home-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Kitchen Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/kitchen-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Bathroom Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/bathroom-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Home Additions](https://www.gilday.com/home-additions-gilday-renovations) - [Pricing & Budgeting](https://www.gilday.com/how-to-budget-for-a-home-renovation-project) - [For Realtors - Pre-Purchase Evaluation](https://www.gilday.com/for-realtors-pre-purchase-evaluation) - [Resources](https://www.gilday.com/renovation-resource-center) - [Renovation Articles](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog) - [Contact Us](https://www.gilday.com/contact) x Search the site # Why Investing in Home Additions is Better Than Buying New [Kevin Gilday](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/author/kevin-gilday) ![Why Investing in Home Additions is Better Than Buying New](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/blog-images/architects-rendition.jpg) ## The Cost of Home Additions vs Buying New Homes Sometimes a prospective client will ask, “What’s the cost per square foot for home additions?” We can give you a reasonable idea of the average cost of a home addition because we design and build so many of them. But the specifications are entirely custom for each project. Sometimes—and this is counter-intuitive—a large addition will appear to cost less per square foot than a smaller one. This is a fundamental difference between custom home remodeling and new home building. *![architects-rendition](https://www.gilday.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-images/architects-rendition.jpg?width=1200&name=architects-rendition.jpg)The architect’s rendering shows stylish accents meant to bring the front elevation up to design standard with the new additions planned for the side and rear of this DC colonial* ## It’s Basic Math The cost of home additions may appear to be way more expensive (per square foot) than the cost of new home construction. Why? Because in a new build, the cost of the most expensive rooms in the house (kitchens and baths) gets spread over double or triple the square footage. Remember, in Washington DC, we are building on fairly small lots. Most home additions take up less than 1,000 square feet of new space. So, there is no extra square footage to disguise the cost of the more expensive areas. A custom renovation (e.g., two-story addition with a master suite, modern kitchen and family room) packs a lot of quality into a small area—and adds tremendous value to the home. That’s why trying to put a value based on size (cost per square foot) is a skewed basis for comparison. ## Think “Value” Per Square Foot for Home Additions Remember: “Custom” costs more than “off the shelf.”  By way of example, here is a first floor layout for a two-story addition we designed for a [Washington DC](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-washington-dc) residence. ![washington-floor-plans](https://www.gilday.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-images/washington-floor-plans.jpg?width=1200&name=washington-floor-plans.jpg)*An addition doubles the size of this house providing an opportunity to reconfigure the entire first floor plan. The value of the new rooms is extremely high.* This design plan was conceived to enhance the unique characteristics of the existing house and to free it of its former limitations. Everything about it is custom. Compare the size of the old kitchen (left) with the new design (right). Also, you can see we expanded the dining room (right) when we eliminated the old kitchen. The old living room (left) was redesigned to create a foyer and parlor. The addition provided space for a new kitchen with an island, a breakfast nook, and a family room which completes the reconfiguration of the first floor plan. ![side-elevation](https://www.gilday.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-images/side-elevation.jpg?width=1200&name=side-elevation.jpg)*This side elevation shows new additions appropriately styled to resonate with the character of the original home.* It should be clear now that the cost of home additions and custom renovation cannot be compared to the cost of new home construction. There is a lot of thought, care, and value designed into a comparatively small area. What a renovation may lack in size and interior volume, it makes up for in high quality customization and “right-sized” room dimensions. Do you ever wish for additional space in your home? Sometimes the most satisfying solution to this issue is to add-on to your home--especially if you love the neighborhood you are in. So, before you give up and put your house on the market, [give us a call](https://www.gilday.com/schedule-your-home-addition-discovery-session). If it turns out that an addition is a viable option, you may realize that the cost of an addition may even be less than the cost of preparing your home for sale, moving, and purchasing the new home. To learn more about the home addition design-build process, download our eBook titled "[What Every Homeowner Needs to Know About Home Additions and Whole Home Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/home-additions)" to get an in-depth understanding. If you are considering a home renovation, please feel free to [schedule a home renovation discovery session](https://www.gilday.com/schedule-your-home-addition-discovery-session) with Gilday today. [![home addition](https://www.gilday.com/hs-fs/hubfs/hub_generated/resized/eb724356-42ee-47b2-8a2c-66ee28d702ef.png?width=500&height=200&name=eb724356-42ee-47b2-8a2c-66ee28d702ef.png)](https://www.gilday.com/cs/c/?cta_guid=54fa9ac1-70d6-4edd-8da6-138a31adc17c&signature=AAH58kE5R_fqCqoOp7xoMu9YE08RPjdgjA&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gilday.com%2Fdesign-build-dc-blog&portal_id=4060073&pageId=113883536804&placement_guid=759d781c-37f6-4d69-86b5-50f364f6f7ea&click=0dc65f5a-6909-4053-9503-cc71597b124c&redirect_url=APefjpEC4LqQYaLDmUutVtGPeHhN3bLkJHtMH2lLhPOrjP0pFjOlTI0UnkZBM1GHXfO4GhmT5q4okdA8FNZEdZJ04QX17jTeFVgvhSU7OTet4Wq7g3I5Z19xozOsVBoUP9TraXcorQqC0GGs_9-CJsSIRYGaDwn85d4NOJ7szY2y3x8usg5OO417h_DdZVt4BgMMlxu1lENqMxS3LKplDvxAz286EGyIisY-tpVbuSdxVzNKSQW5Ty1DAn7ThWQiPDl8LZ-BAZ_rFHqhh-YPpF_uP42k7IB1wg&hsutk=d73392bcf6ae43fb1c331072f0de6653&canon=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gilday.com%2Fdesign-build-dc-blog%2Fhome-additions-and-architectural-style-blending-new-and-old&ts=1732107481905&__hstc=126459986.d73392bcf6ae43fb1c331072f0de6653.1700656669767.1731501423500.1732106752809.174&__hssc=126459986.22.1732106752809&__hsfp=336580338&contentType=blog-post)   ## Related Articles: Home Addition [![A Tranquil, Court-side Guest Cottage: ADU Remodeling in Metro DC](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/blog-images/01-ADU-Remodeling.jpg) **A Tranquil, Court-side Guest Cottage: ADU Remodeling in Metro DC** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/adu-remodeling) [![Home Additions Then and Now: How to Add New and Reconfigure Old Space](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Images/renovation-portfolio/scenic_overlook_porch_addition/scenic-overlook-porch-addition-potomac-md-3-1.png) **Home Additions Then and Now: How to Add New and Reconfigure Old Space** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/home-additions-then-and-now-how-to-add-new-and-reconfigure-old-space) [![The Home Addition Shortcut: Convert a Porch, Attic, Basement or Garage](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Images/kitchen/kitchen-renovation-take-two/kitchen-renovation-take-2-1.jpg) **The Home Addition Shortcut: Convert a Porch, Attic, Basement or Garage** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/the-home-addition-shortcut-convert-a-porch-attic-basement-or-garage) [![Home Additions and Architectural Style: Blending New and Old](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/blog-images/Patio_Side_F.jpg) **Home Additions and Architectural Style: Blending New and Old** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/home-additions-and-architectural-style-blending-new-and-old) [![How to maximize space in your home if an addition isn’t possible](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/blog-images/kitchen-island.jpg) **How to maximize space in your home if an addition isn’t possible** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/how-to-maximize-space-in-your-home-if-an-addition-isnt-possible) [![Can Zoning and Lot Size Affect My Home Addition Plans?](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/0e46f4_1e4e4eccdaf84d899d72b3c44a21dabb_1.jpg) **Can Zoning and Lot Size Affect My Home Addition Plans?** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/zoning-and-lot-size-affect-home-addition-plans) [![WHAT'S THE COST OF A HOME ADDITION IN WASHINGTON, DC](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/0e46f4_d7f3eb1f8a0144539562f72002726611_2.jpg) **WHAT'S THE COST OF A HOME ADDITION IN WASHINGTON, DC** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/whats-the-cost-of-a-home-addition-in-washington-dc) [![What’s the Right Size for a Home Addition? Not Too Big and Not Too Small](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/blog-images/interior-view-of-yard.jpg) **What’s the Right Size for a Home Addition? Not Too Big and Not Too Small** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/whats-the-right-size-for-a-home-addition-not-too-big-and-not-too-small) [![Considering Porches -or- How the Greeks Invented Outdoor Living](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/0e46f4_423a6344cd1948a699103fe85a7ca493-2.png) **Considering Porches -or- How the Greeks Invented Outdoor Living** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/single-post/2016/04/07/considering-porches-or-how-the-greeks-invented-outdoor-living) [![Home Additions That Go Against the Grain](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Lichtman-1a.jpg) **Home Additions That Go Against the Grain** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/room-additions-that-go-against-the-grain.html) [![Little Additions](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/malek-1.jpg) **Little Additions** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/little-additions.html) ## Leave a comment We are architects We are interior designers We are builders Let us be yours Gilday Renovations 8820 Brookville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910 © Gilday Renovations 2025 - [About Us](https://www.gilday.com/about-gilday-renovations) - [Portfolio](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio) - Services - [Resources](https://www.gilday.com/renovation-resource-center) - [Renovation Articles](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog) - [Contact Us](https://www.gilday.com/contact) 301.565.4600 [info@gilday.com](mailto:info@gilday.com) [Privacy Policy](https://www.gilday.com/gilday-com-privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.gilday.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "name" : "Gilday Renovations", "potentialAction" : { "@type" : "SearchAction", "query-input" : "required name=search_term_string", "target" : "https://www.gilday.com/hs-search-results?term={search_term_string}" }, "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://www.gilday.com/#entity" }, "url" : "https://www.gilday.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.gilday.com/#entity", "@type" : [ "Organization", "GeneralContractor" ], "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Silver Spring", "addressRegion" : "MD", "postalCode" : "20910", "streetAddress" : "8820 Brookville Road" }, "areaServed" : [ { "@type" : "State", "name" : "District of Columbia" }, { "@type" : "State", "name" : "Maryland" }, { "@type" : "State", "name" : "Virginia" } ], "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/0e46f4_15daa73f94264bbd95eb4e173ad2d447.jpg" }, "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/H_Logo.jpg" }, "name" : "Gilday Renovations", "openingHoursSpecification" : { "@type" : "OpeningHoursSpecification", "closes" : "17:00", "dayOfWeek" : [ "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday" ], "opens" : "09:00" }, "priceRange" : "$$$", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/gilday.renovations/", "https://twitter.com/GildayBuilders", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/gilday-renovations/about/", "https://www.pinterest.com/gildaycom/", "https://www.houzz.com/pro/gildayrenovations/gilday-renovations", "https://www.instagram.com/gildayrenovations/" ], "telephone" : "+1-301-565-4600", "url" : "https://www.gilday.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Kevin Gilday" }, "dateModified" : "June 19, 2018", "datePublished" : "June 19, 2018", "description" : "Custom home additions & renovation pack a lot of quality into a small area. New construction, spreads the cost of the most expensive rooms over extensive square footage", "headline" : "Why Investing in Home Additions is Better Than Buying New", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 800, "url" : "https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/blog-images/architects-rendition.jpg", "width" : 800 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/why-investing-in-home-additions-is-better-than-buying-new", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4060073/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/H_Logo.jpg" }, "name" : "Gilday Renovations" } } ```