How we work
Designed to belong, then built once, built right
An addition shouldn’t look bolted on. We design yours to flow with the existing home, with matched rooflines, matched finishes, and an intentional layout, so it reads as part of the house, not an afterthought.
We start with design and permitted plans, not a stock box dropped on a slab. The footprint, the light, and how the new space connects to the old are all planned around how you’ll actually use it.
Everything your home addition needs, under one roof
Design & Permitted Plans
Design & Permitted Plans
We design the addition to flow with your existing home and handle the permitted plans before anything breaks ground.
Foundation & Footings
Foundation & Footings
Footings and foundation sized to the addition and your soil, the part that keeps everything above it straight and solid.
Framing & Structure
Framing & Structure
Framing tied into the existing structure and built to carry the new roof and loads to code.
Roofline Tie-In
Roofline Tie-In
A roofline that meets your existing roof cleanly, so the addition belongs to the house.
Electrical, Plumbing & HVAC
Electrical, Plumbing & HVAC
New circuits, plumbing runs, and conditioned air extended in, sized so the whole house still performs.
Insulation, Drywall & Finish
Insulation, Drywall & Finish
Insulation, drywall, flooring, and trim finished to match the rest of your home.
What we build
Types of Additions We Build
Four ways to add the space you need, each engineered to tie into your existing home so the new work reads as original construction.
Room additions
extra bedrooms, family rooms, and living space on a new foundation
Bump-outs
extending an existing kitchen, bath, or room a few feet for more space
Second-story additions
building up where the lot won't allow building out
In-law suites & ADUs
accessory dwelling units with their own bath, kitchen, and entry
Explore in-law suitesarrow_forwardBuilding entirely new instead of adding on? See our custom home builder page. Renovating the rest of the home too? See home remodeling.
Your options
Three ways to build it
Every tier is built to the same standard. The difference is materials and finish level, never the quality of the work or the care in the design.
Good
Builder-grade, beaten
A sound, well-built addition with standard finishes, clean structural and roofline tie-ins, and a layout designed around the room’s purpose.
What's included
- checkNo design revisions
- checkSend us your inspiration photos. We build toward them as best we can
- checkLight selection guidance, focused on keeping you on budget
Better
Most popularThe sweet spot
Upgraded windows, trim, and finishes, with more custom layout and detailing where it counts.
What's included
- checkOne design revision
- checkHands-on selection support, we help you choose materials and finishes
Best
No compromises
High-end finishes, premium windows, and custom built-ins, detailing that makes the addition read like original construction.
What's included
- checkUnlimited design revisions
- checkWork one-on-one with a designer
- checkFull white-glove selection support, start to finish
All tiers include a full scope in writing, one accountable builder, and no-surprise billing. The price you approve is the price you pay.
Let’s make sure we’re a match
Are we the right fit?
A project like this is a real investment, so it’s worth a quick gut-check up front. Here’s where we do our best work, and where another team might serve you better.
thumb_upA great fit if…
- check_circleYou’re planning a full home addition and want it done right the first time.
- check_circleYou like knowing the scope, schedule, and price in writing before work starts.
- check_circleYou’d rather have one builder accountable for the whole job than juggle subs yourself.
- check_circleYou see your home as a long-term investment, not a quick flip.
balanceCould be a fit if…
- check_circleYou’re getting a few bids and want to understand what’s actually different between them, not just the bottom line.
- check_circleYou’re weighing whether it’s worth investing a bit more up front for certainty on cost and scope.
- check_circleYou have a budget in mind and want a builder who’ll tell you honestly what it can and can’t do.
infoMaybe not the best fit if…
- removeYou want the smallest, quickest patch rather than the whole thing done right.
- removeYou’d prefer to skip the permits and inspections.
What you’re really paying for is the team you don’t have to manage, one written scope, one point of accountability, and a job done right the first time. If that’s what you’re after, the best first step is a Project Blueprint, a licensed professional’s written read on your project before you commit a dollar.
The Project Blueprint
Know your home addition before you commit
Not sure what your home addition will really cost, or whether your plan even works? Start with a Project Blueprint. For $297, a licensed professional studies your project and hands you a written read: feasibility and recommendations, a risk assessment, renderings, and a real budget range, all before you build.
It’s the same preconstruction work-up we’d do internally before quoting the job. The free phone consultation comes first; the Blueprint is the paid next step for serious, full-scope projects, and your $297 credits 100% toward the project.
auto_stories A real brief we produced for a Midlands homeowner, flip through it.
A real Chonko Construction project brief, drag a corner to turn the page, or tap "View larger" to read it full-size. (Names and address are samples.)
What you walk away with
What's inside your Blueprint
A clear picture of what your remodel will really take, scope, design direction, and a budget to plan and finance around. Not a quote; the map.
Your ballpark project cost
A realistic cost range for the remodel you actually want, priced to your scope and finishes, not a generic square-foot guess.
- checkA range by scope & tier
- checkSized to your finishes
- checkA real number to plan around
What's behind the walls
The feasibility read most contractors skip, what your home’s structure, plumbing, and wiring will actually allow before you fall for a plan that can’t happen.
- checkStructural & load-bearing check
- checkPlumbing & electrical realities
- checkWhat the layout can and can't do
Design direction & selections
Layout options and a finish direction for the space, enough to picture the result and price it honestly.
- checkLayout & flow options
- checkFinish & material direction
- checkA look you can picture
Preliminary budget & allowances
A line-item preliminary budget with rough allowances for finishes and fixtures, real enough to take to your lender and plan your financing.
- checkRough finish & fixture allowances
- checkBuilt for planning & financing
- checkA ballpark, not a fixed quote
Timeline & project roadmap
A realistic timeframe and the step-by-step path from today to reveal day, including how long you are actually without the space.
- checkA phase-by-phase schedule
- checkHow long you're without the space
- checkThe path to done
Tailored to your home
Not a template. Every number is worked for your specific house and the rooms you actually want changed.
- checkYour home, your rooms
- checkYour must-haves priced in
- checkOne clear plan to decide on
The path from here
- 1Free consultation
- 2Project Blueprint
- 3Design & selections
- 4Written contract
- 5We build it
- 6Reveal day
The Project Blueprint is $297, and every dollar credits 100% toward your build.
Every figure in your Blueprint is a preliminary, illustrative ballpark to help you plan and finance, not a fixed quote. Your locked scope, schedule, and price come with your written Chonko Construction contract, after design.
Our Process
How your home addition comes together
From the first call to the final walkthrough, one builder, one written plan, no guesswork.
- forum1
Free Consultation
Start with a free phone consultation. Tell us what you’re picturing, and we’ll tell you straight whether it’s a fit, at no charge.
- architecture2
Your Project Blueprint
For $297, a licensed professional visits and hands you a written read on your project: whether it’s feasible, what it costs as a planning range, and what could blow the budget. It credits 100% toward your build.
- description3
Design & Written Price
We design the space and put the full scope, schedule, and firm price in writing, agreed before any work starts. No vague bids, no "we’ll figure it out as we go."
- event_available4
Approve & Schedule
You sign off on the plan and the number. We lock in materials, pull the permits, and set a real start date.
- construction5
Build & Communicate
One licensed builder runs the whole job and keeps you in the loop at every phase. No chasing subs, no surprises on the invoice.
- verified6
Walkthrough & Warranty
We finish with a full walkthrough against the scope you approved, then back the work with a named workmanship warranty.
- forum1
Free Consultation
Start with a free phone consultation. Tell us what you’re picturing, and we’ll tell you straight whether it’s a fit, at no charge.
- architecture2
Your Project Blueprint
For $297, a licensed professional visits and hands you a written read on your project: whether it’s feasible, what it costs as a planning range, and what could blow the budget. It credits 100% toward your build.
- description3
Design & Written Price
We design the space and put the full scope, schedule, and firm price in writing, agreed before any work starts. No vague bids, no "we’ll figure it out as we go."
- event_available4
Approve & Schedule
You sign off on the plan and the number. We lock in materials, pull the permits, and set a real start date.
- construction5
Build & Communicate
One licensed builder runs the whole job and keeps you in the loop at every phase. No chasing subs, no surprises on the invoice.
- verified6
Walkthrough & Warranty
We finish with a full walkthrough against the scope you approved, then back the work with a named workmanship warranty.
Serving Columbia & the Midlands
© OpenStreetMap contributors © CARTO
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a bump-out and a full home addition?add
A bump-out extends an existing room a few feet (a larger kitchen or bathroom) without a full foundation. A full addition adds entire new rooms or a second story on its own foundation. Chonko Construction builds both as design-build projects in Columbia and the Midlands.
How much does a home addition cost in Columbia, SC?add
Addition cost depends on size, foundation, and finish. A bump-out costs far less than a full second story. Every Chonko Construction project starts with a written scope, schedule, and price before work begins. Typical Midlands ranges are published in our home addition cost guide.
How do I find out if my addition is feasible and what it will cost?add
Start with a Project Blueprint. For $297, a licensed professional visits your home and delivers a written feasibility read (setbacks, structure, and tie-ins) plus a risk assessment and a preliminary budget range. The $297 credits 100% toward your addition if you build with us.
Do I need a permit for a home addition in Richland County?add
Yes, home additions require building permits and inspections. As a licensed home builder, Chonko Construction handles the permits and inspections for additions across Richland and Lexington County as part of the project.
Can you match a home addition to my existing house?add
Yes. Chonko Construction designs additions to match the existing home (rooflines, siding, brick, and trim) so the new space looks original, not added on. This is a core part of our design-build process.
Related Guides
What Does a Home Addition Cost in the Midlands?
by addition type.
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Start Your Home Addition
Free phone consultation
Talk through your home addition
A quick, no-pressure call to scope the work and answer your questions. Pick a time on the right and we’ll call you then.
- check_circleA licensed builder on the phone, not a call center
- check_circleWe scope the project and talk through your options
- check_circleIt books straight onto our calendar, no estimate pressure