Thanks to its relatively affordable housing and plethora of job opportunities, many families are keen on staying and planting their roots in Philadelphia. However, as time goes by, the needs of every family grow, and with that comes the eventual need for more room. Making additions to your home can get quite tricky, though, as it requires strong attention to detail and deep care for preserving and adding to the unique character of your personal space.
To help, we’ve gathered a list of the seven best home addition contractors in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, curated based on their experience, the quality and complexity of their projects, and their reputation in the business.
Hanson Fine Building & Preservation
Address:
86 W. Johnson St., Philadelphia, PA 19144
For 35 years and counting, Hanson Fine Building & Preservation has been building long-lasting structures and great working relationships in the Philadelphia region. With a focus on historic preservation and energy-efficient construction, it does great work on all aspects of construction in projects like renovations, custom additions, and sustainable new construction.
SMaking a home addition calls for having a good idea about the intricacies of the existing structure, and with that, the team always makes sure to approach each project with clear communication, effective problem-solving, and site sensitivity to preserve the character of the home while making a good addition that addresses the clients’ growing needs.
The West Philadelphia Addition project is a prime example of the firm’s commitment to sustainable construction. Nearly every part of this new home addition is made out of repurposed materials, from the white-washed walls that were salvaged from an art gallery to the floor that came from salvaged heart pine beams, and even the roof rafters that were taken from a former church in Manayunk. On top of being sustainably built, all of these elements combined make for a unique kitchen in form and style.
Bellweather Design-Build, LLC
Address:
4613 Woodland Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19143
Bellweather Design-Build prides itself in its finely-tuned process, superior communication, and integrity in creating homes that reflect the clients’ vision and goals for their new space. On top of this comprehensive process, its managing partner, Will Giesey, also has extensive experience in renovations and remodeling, with an interest in engineering, energy efficiency, historical preservation, and modern, timeless design which certainly reflects in all of the company’s construction projects.
Bellweather Design-Build’s expertise in making tailored home additions is displayed in its work on the Four Level Graduate Hospital Rowhome, made for a growing family who has outgrown the 3-story house they loved. Instead of moving out of their beloved quiet neighborhood, they decided to take over some of their generous backyard space to create more room for the family.
This project added 1,000 square feet to the rear of the home, along with the addition of a pilothouse and a roof deck. Meanwhile, the kitchen addition includes two-toned blue and white kitchen cabinets and white quartz kitchen countertops with a farmhouse sink. This project ended up being awarded the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Regional “Contractor of the Year” award for projects over $250,000 and was featured on the cover of Philadelphia Magazine’s 2020 real estate issue.
Orion General Contractors
Address:
100 Cricket Ave., Ardmore, PA 19003
In the past 24 years, Orion General Contractors has been providing an exceptional level of craftsmanship and service. As a high-end boutique construction firm, it has worked on a wide array of projects ranging from small jobs to multi-million dollar additions and alterations.
For its dedication to fine-tuning details to each project’s specific needs, it has received numerous awards including three Lower Merion Township preservation awards, five regional Home Builders Association “Pyramid Awards,” the Main Line Builders Association “best Residential Remodel Over $1,500,000” and a national “Best of the Best” award from Professional Remodeler Magazine for the best whole house green remodel.
When it comes to home renovations and additions, Orion General Contractors has a particular knack for building in traditional and farmhouse styles, like the Haverford Transformation. Orion’s team is great at creating timeless additions to classic homes by adding to its innate charm and elegance.
Gardner/Fox Associates, Inc
Address:
919 Glenbrook Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Gardner/Fox Associates strives to make the building process of unique spaces simple and easy. Since its establishment in 1987, it has been providing exceptional customer satisfaction, earning it its reputation of being one of the top design/build firms of Philadelphia and the Main Line. Its in-house team of architects and interior designers all work together in order to create a space that is truly made for the client, making it a great choice when it comes to making comprehensive renovations and home additions.
Take for example an award-winning shingle-style Victorian addition project. Being a late 19th-century structure, it is imperative to preserve the home’s unique character while still bringing it up to date for the current homeowners. Gardner/Fox’s team worked on a program that significantly altered the old floor plan and masonry in order to attach a 2-car garage, side entry, mudroom, and pantry, all while still keeping the home’s classic charm. The restoration aspect of this project was recognized with the Best of the Best Design Award for the best project overall in a national remodeling competition, as well as the inaugural Historic Preservation Award from Radnor Township.
J. Schwartz, LLC Remodeling & Fine Home Building
Address:
7 E. King St., Malvern, PA 19355
For two decades now, J. Schwartz, LLC Remodeling & Fine Home Building has been setting the standard for fine home building in the Pennsylvania area. In all of its projects, it strives to implement the latest building science in order to make sure that the final product meets the standards for safety, efficiency, and health, all while staying mindful of the client’s budget, time, and needs.
When working with projects, clients can expect that the team engages with each step in a collaborative approach, with onsite supervision for each aspect. Its team strives to provide a smooth and tailored experience for the client while making sure that through this hands-on process, every detail is accounted for in building the client’s dream home and in making the perfect additions. Take for instance the firm’s work on the Haverford PA Kitchen Addition. This home addition below features the the addition of this elegant kitchen in a way that blends in well with the rest of the home.
Buckminster Green
Address:
1516 N. 5th St. Unit #325, Philadelphia, PA 19122
Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Buckminster Green is a design-build remodeler, specializing in green home remodeling and renovations in the area. Bringing its love for design with each home it encounters, Buckminster Green stays involved in all phases of the project, from planning right down to the finishing touches. Thanks to its systematic approach to remodeling, it provides a beautiful and functional long-lasting space that families can enjoy for years to come.
One great example of its expertise at work is the Rittenhouse Square Rowhouse project. This project presented some very unique design challenges that the team managed to create insightful workarounds for. For starters, the Rittenhouse Square used to be split into eight Airbnb units with a kitchenette in each, and the team was tasked to stitch it all back up into a single-family home for their clients and their four children.
One notable project was a kitchen which was built to be just right for entertaining visitors and for serving as the “command center” of the home where the family can meet and dine together comfortably. Prior to the remodel, the old kitchen was accessed from the dining room and was followed by an inconveniently located full bedroom and bath addition. Of course, in order to create a more seamless floor plan for a single-family home, the team demolished the structurally unsound addition at the back and replaced it with a light-filled breakfast room that fully opens to the expansive kitchen seen here.
Cottage Industries, Inc.
Address:
237 W. Lancaster Ave. Ste. 200, Devon, PA 19333
Since its inception in the ’80s, Cottage Industries has maintained a love for working on older homes. It first began as a company that renovated houses to rent or flip, but eventually, thanks to its work and customer service, the team garnered a customer following that pushed them to develop a new business practice, dedicated to providing clients with good, long-lasting home renovations and remodels. The firm believes that a home addition isn’t just done to make the place larger — it’s also a way to reconfigure the home to work better for the clients. Finding a new place in your neighborhood of choice isn’t always feasible, so sometimes additions are often the most ideal approach to enhance the home.
An example of Cottage Industries’ work is this Up and Out project. The firm added in more elbow room for the family while still merging the style smoothly with the existing structure, creating a more accommodating home that grows with the family.
