A majority of homeowners will benefit from a larger kitchen. Despite the fact that kitchens have grown in size over the last few years, the typical kitchen only measures between 100 and 200 square feet. When you think that kitchens are tightly packed with many services: sink, oven, stove, dishwasher, refrigerator, cabinets, and more, that's not much room. With kitchens acting as focal points for social events, things get much more complicated. Kitchen islands and sit-down breakfast bars necessitate additional space.
Kitchen Bump Outs vs. Full Additions
Another option is to build a solution that only applies to the kitchen and not the entire house, which is usually less expensive than a full addition. This alternative is known as a kitchen bump out, and it is a small extension that moves the kitchen out a few feet. In the light of the reduced dimensions of the structure it takes less time to create than regularly to install a Kitchen Add-on, a Micro Expansion, or simply a Kitchen Addition. A kitchen bump out, like any other house bump out, extends the space but does not count as a separate room.
An addition is an obvious option. Full-size additions, on the other hand, often contain more space and rooms than are required. Furthermore, full-size additions are often so costly that even moderately sized homes can easily hit the six-figure mark.
Another alternative is to create a solution that only extends to the kitchen and not the whole house, which is typically less costly than a complete addition. This alternative is known as a kitchen bump out, and it is a small extension that moves the kitchen out a few feet.
Pic credit: Additions by brady
Uses
In certain instances, a bump out provides only enough room for an island to be mounted. Also a large entertainment kitchen island with seating can be installed with this extra room.
Homeowners who enjoy cooking should upgrade to larger, more modern appliances that are better suited to their needs. Larger French-door refrigerators or newer, more powerful stoves may be fitted.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a kitchen bump out
Advantages
It is less costly to build than a complete addition.
Just adds space to the areas where it's needed: the cooking area.
If the scale of your land or surrounding easements prohibit you from constructing a full-size addition, this is a good option.
In certain cases, additional heating or cooling may not be needed.
If further heating or cooling is needed, permanent heaters or window unit air conditioners can be easily added.
Disadvantages
Permits are needed.
It usually necessitates additional work in the current kitchen space to accommodate the new bumped out space, which necessitates a base.
On a dollar-per-square-foot basis, it is less cost-effective than a complete addition.
It can be difficult to visually match with the rest of the house's exterior design.
Basic Concepts of Kitchen Bump Out Construction
The external walls of the building are all load-bearing. When a load-bearing wall is removed, its work must be duplicated in another way. The use of a laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beam to replace the wall is a popular option.
Longer ranges are more difficult to cover with LVL beams. If you want an open plan kitchen, keep in mind that long periods can necessitate the use of multiple LVL beams. It becomes a big and costly undertaking to open up a room that spans the entire width of the building.
You may not need to install additional heating or cooling capacity because the new room is so limited. If you do need to add more, it is relatively simple to do so. With baseboard heaters, heating for small areas can be increased. Window-unit air conditioners will provide additional cooling for small spaces.
Many of the same features as a complete addition are present in a kitchen bump out: foundation footings, siding, electrical work, roofing, plumbing, ventilation, windows, subfloor, and floor covering. It can be difficult to match the current kitchen flooring; in reality, it is always easier to install new flooring throughout the entire kitchen.
Short kitchen bump outs that only stretch a few feet beyond the house can only necessitate a simple lean-to roof. In any case, any kitchen bump out requires its own roofing.
Are you planning to add a kitchen bump out to your home? Contact the Home Addition Contractor in North Haven, CT