Bungalow Room Additions

Draw Addition to Scale

• The addition requires careful planning on graph paper. You might, for example, want to construct a new room on the side of your bungalow. By drawing the existing floor plan and new room addition to scale, you can decide where to incorporate door openings, for example. By drawing the new addition in 3-D design, you can figure out if the addition looks appropriate with the existing house.

Plan Appropriate Roofing

• Pay attention to the roof lines. Your new addition must fit with the existing roof to look original to the house construction. Overhangs for the addition should flow with the overhangs in place -- matching them in width and all guttering in place. Plan the roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles or Spanish tile, to blend seamlessly with what's already in place.

Continue Foundation Design

• Create a foundation design that matches the house foundation. If the bungalow has a brick foundation, the new addition must have a brick foundation as well. You will need to figure out the best way to dig the new foundation and allow for crawlspace needs -- such as duct work for heating and cooling. Building a full-scale basement is usually not necessary unless you really need the basement space.

Use Matching Exterior Materials

• The design of windows and doors, plus house siding, should fit harmoniously. If your existing windows are large windows with individual panes, choose this design for your room addition as one option. It's possible to vary the window design by installing glass-block windows, for example. Make sure the windows look appropriate for the era the bungalow was built. Walk-out doors and siding should match what's already in place, unless you plan an exterior makeover for the house.

Plan Well-Crafted Interior

• Create an interior design that blends with the rest of the house. Don't, for example, install a room with skimpy baseboards and wood trim if the older part of the house has well-crafted baseboards and trim. Use 12-inch high baseboards, for example, to flow seamlessly with what's already in place. Light fixtures and doorways should look original to the house design if your bungalow is restored to its original condition.