Guest House: Build New or Renovate

Some homeowners may be faced with the decision to either build a new guest house or renovate the one that they already have on the property. This is not always an easy decision. The decision can become even more difficult if the current, older guest house has historical or sentimental value to the homeowner. While it is not always possible to remove emotions from the decision, it is possible to use facts as a basis for the decision.

One of the best ways to decide if an older guest house should stay or go is to do an inspection of the structure and its foundation. You can hire a contractor to come to the property and do this work for you, and that is often the best and most reliable way to get an accurate report. Some of the inspection you can do yourself. Here a few of things that you will want to look at:

Foundation: Depending on the type of guest house that you have, you may or may not be able to get a good look at the foundation. If your guest house is on blocks or is elevated off the ground in some way, you will want to get down and examine the support structures. This can be especially important if your guest house was built on blocks. Cement block and cinder block will often deteriorate over time. Once this happens, their ability to support the guest house is jeopardized. The cost for replacing or repairing a foundation varies greatly, depending on the level of damage and the type of foundation. You should consult a qualified foundation contractor for assistance.

Dry Rot: Dry rot can appear in nearly all climates and it is usually present in older buildings. It can occur both inside and outside the guest house so make sure that you carefully examine all wooden and plywood surfaces. Small amounts of dry rot can be repaired, and usually at an affordable cost. Large amounts of dry rot, however, can cost a great deal to be repaired and replaced. Sub-floors and roofs, as well as outdoor decks and wooden porches can be especially prone to dry rot. When you are doing your inspection for dry rot, keep a log of how much repair work will be needed. You can use this later to get an estimate of the cost for repairs.

Electrical and Plumbing: These are two areas that you should turn over to qualified professionals. For a minimal cost, you can hire qualified and licensed contractors to come to the site and inspect your old guest house for wiring and plumbing problems. This is one of the most important inspections so do not skimp on it. The cost to rewire an old guest house can be expensive. The same is true if the guest house needs to have new plumbing installed to get it up to snuff and up to code.

Once you have competed your inspection you can sit down decide if the cost of renovating the old guest house outweighs building a new guest house. And while your emotional attachment to the old guest house may still be present, you will, at least, have some facts and figures in front of you to help you with your decision.

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