Let’s talk money and remodels/additions (here’s the total estimated cost of our original plan)

First, let me remind you what the original plan was, after we made some adjustments to the floor plan. This was the final plan for the great expansion. Behind the master bathroom was a hallway of sorts that allowed for a walk-in closet on each side, with the walk-in closet on the right being the master closet. And behind that was a large bedroom. This plan also had two decent-sized storage closets, one accessible from the bedroom for Matt’s gear and another accessible to the new family room where he could have a coat closet and also store things like the ten chairs he had. I have for our Wednesday. meetings. This plan also had a new laundry room and a really large family room.

Here is the starting estimate I received from the contractor for that smaller 970 square foot addition without the closets. (This is for those of you who like the nitty-gritty details. ):

• Permit fee for the city of Waco: $650.00
• Permit Fee Plan Review Fee: $500.00
• Engineering cost for designed base: $3,200.00
• Demolition of existing enclosed patio, side room and patio slab: $9,000.00
• Subsidy for wood frames and siding: $22,310.00 ($23 x 970)
• Framing labor allowance: $17,460.00 ($18 x 970)
• Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation: $4,365.00 ($4.50 x 970)
• Subsidy for roofing material, shingles and flashing: $3,600.00
• Roofing Labor Allowance: $2,700.00
• Gutters, labor and materials: $1,500.00
• Subsidy for labor and materials for new windows: $3,040.00
• Allocation of labor and materials for interior and exterior doors: $8,000.00
• Materials and labor allowance for drywall: $4,850.00 ($5 x 970)
• Material allocation for trim, backer boards, fasteners, primer, paint, etc.: $23,280.00 ($24 x 970)
• Labor allowance for moldings, doors, preparation, putty and painting: $17,460.00 ($18 x 970)
• Flooring Material Allowance, 8% Waste Factor: $6,300.00 ($6 x 1,050)
• Flooring labor allowance: $4,200.00 ($4 x 1,050)
• Allowance for rework and relocation of electrical circuit (switch box) – $3,500.00
• Electrical Trim and Installation Allowance: $8,972.50 ($9.25 x 970)
• Gas Subsidy for New Tankless Water Heater, HVAC Unit and Fireplace: $3,800.00
• Subsidy for roughing, staking and trimming pipes: $4,750.00
• Plumbing grant to install pump station for sewer line, includes trench and connection work: $3,800.00
• Install a new ducted HVAC system to expand: $9,800.00
• Subsidy to install an exhaust fan and duct: $450.00
• Fireplace allowance for gas fireplace insertion and installation: $3,200.00
• Garbage/Debris Allowance per Load to remove work-related trash and debris per load, includes City Landfill charges: $4,500.00
• Project Manager Allowance for the duration of the project: $5,760.00
• Waste Station Subsidy for Port-A-Jon: $1,600.00 ($200 x 8 months)
• Overhead 12%: $21,905.70
• Profit 12%: $21,905.70
• TOTAL $226,358.90

Of course, that’s not even the grand total, because in the estimate, I find this note at the bottom:

Owner acknowledges that he or she is responsible for providing all fixtures/finishing appliances not specifically included above and is responsible for ensuring that they are at the project site when required to avoid schedule delays or additional travel charges. These items are outside the materials scope of this estimate. Finishing accessories include: door locks and hardware, cabinet hardware, toilets, sinks, lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, plumbing fixtures, bathroom accessory bars, mirrors, coat or organization accessories, blinds, etc.

You will notice that there was a laundry room on the plan, but there were no laundry room cabinets in the estimate. There is no countertop listed. So those things would be in addition. I estimate the cabinets and countertops for a laundry room that size would cost at least around $8000.

Also not on the list:

• Any type of closet organization system (I would like PAX closets)
• Each and every one of the furniture and decoration items.

I haven’t priced specific furniture or decorative items, but for the plan shown above, I would need a headboard or bed, two nightstands, a rug, curtains, blinds, lamps, a ceiling fan, and other decorative items. for the bedroom. For the family room, you would need two sofas, two chairs, a coffee table or ottoman, side tables, a rug, lamps, curtains, shelves or other “filler” furniture, decorative items, lighting, etc.

Estimating those things without having a defined design/decorating plan is very challenging, but I imagine I could do the bedroom for around $5000 (if I do some DIY stuff, obviously), and I could do the living room for around $8000 (with more DIY).

In addition to the extension , there was also the plan to redo the kitchen once we finished the extension. It’s something I’ve talked about for a while now because our current kitchen is small, inefficient, and was made on a very tight budget 10 years ago. So the plan was to (1) build and finish the addition and then (2) remodel the kitchen.

I’ve been pricing IKEA cabinets for several future plans (as you know because I’ve shared them with you), and even keeping the kitchen where it is, which was the plan with the big addition, the new cabinets would have been about $15,000. The new countertops would have cost around $3000 minimum. New appliances are around $8000 minimum (but probably more, because I want the matte white Cafe appliances).