I think either would be fine. You'll likely face some challenges that new building doesn't have and likely some challenges that remodeling doesn't have so using both seems like it would be worthwhile.

Such an extensive project needs to be weighed carefully for cost effectiveness. The difficult part is that so many of the factors are so subjective.

This forum is fine, welcome, and good luck!

A 1 1/2 story house up the street was sold sometime this summer and the new owner (a realtor who intends to flip this house) is putting on a 2nd story. All the neighborhood is up in arms as he's doing it very poorly. I think he didn't realize how much this would cost and is now cutting corners right and left.

He's used Hardie Board in a heinous color for the 2nd story (1st story is brick). He has put in cheap vinyl windows. The previous owner had planted a small tree in front of the front chimney (hideous!) and he had it cut down - no, not to be able to do the construction but after it was done. She had also done some very outstanding layers landscaping in the front - really wonderful year 'round. All that was cut down - new owner said it isn't what "his buyers want". Well, who the heck are "his buyers''? It's what people expect in THIS neighborhood! He has turned a rather charming house into a 1970's cheap subdivision house in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in this town.

Lord only knows what he's asking for this monstrosity. He has a sign out but it's not on the company's web site yet. No one objects to the 2nd story being added (but were surprised that the city allowed it - pretty strict these days with building permits).

Good luck with your project! Please show us pictures!

Cost analysis has already been done early on. Of course it was complicated and included nonmonetary factors such as lot location, view, and our immediate area feeding into an excellent school in addition to the usual cost per square foot numbers. But architecturally what we like is extremely rare and you pretty much have to build it on your own. We're sort of in an odd position to begin with.

Appendix J of the IRC calls this "Reconstruction"

The Home Disasters also might be an applicable fit. I’m really surprised that a teardown isn’t more cost effective. Tying old and new is the most expensive construction there is.

When the house lists, Anglo, show us the link - with a description like that I am DYING to see it!

@Sophie - that was looked into as well, but even demoing only the original portion of the house (leaving the garage and 2002 addition) would have been about couple hundred thousand more. Structurally it's very overbuilt and this will be at least the 5th house in the immediate area to take on this kind of project within the last ten years.

Disasters on the other hand, that would have been a great choice for the place when we moved in. It was a short sale that the previous owners pretty much gave up on. On my way here after closing the first things I bought were a bucket, scrub brush and huge bottle of Simple Green because this place was nasty!

I think fits this forum very nicely..we had gut remodel plus addition and was very much like a build just worse I suspect lol

(we did kitchen and two baths. well we did lots of stuff. some, we had no idea we'd do but you open the walls and then you realize.

no it looks the same exterior wise-the addition is seamless. they did a good job on this one. no one can find where it is even whoever knew the full story of remodel. they can't figure it out lol. sometimes I forget about it myself..

It's a small addition yet it allowed us to reconfigure things so much smarter

it's a one story we have)

ah. the city was allover us as if a new build. trust me they didn't miss anything. they also decided upon many new rules around that time. new gas meters, etc etc. So changing more stuff that didn't bother us at all, to comply)

the most impressively on time during this remodel were a rental port-a -potty company folks..these were like a clock..:) for a year and a half..I was mighty impressed.