Before you add on: three questions about your lot

Most additions are decided outside the house, not in it. Before we draw anything, we ask three questions about the lot.

1. How close can you build?

The parish and the city each have setbacks from the property line. A family room that fits on paper may be four feet too wide on the lot.

2. Where does the water go?

Red clay holds water. A new roof sheds it somewhere, and that somewhere should not be your neighbour's yard or your own slab.

3. What is underneath?

Septic lines, gas lines and old footings turn up where nobody expected them. We call before we dig, and we find out before we price.