Bump-Out Addition

Bump-out addition overview: Benefits and planning

Building a “bump-out” is a big project that adds only a few square feet to a room. But in some rooms—especially bathrooms—an extra 6 or 7 sq. ft. allows for a complete transformation. With this wee addition, you can actually turn a half bath into a full bath, install a luxury two-sink vanity or even install a spa. The bump-out shown here allowed Charlie Avoles to expand a bathroom and replace a small tub with an oversized, easy-access shower.

A bump-out is a home addition. And though a lot smaller than most, it raises many of the same planning issues. This article covers the main issues Charlie had to wrestle with; they’re the same things you’ll have to consider if you’re interested in a bump-out of your own.

If, after working through all these considerations, you decide a bump-out is worth the effort, get a building permit. That might seem like a pain in the neck. But think of it this way: An expert will check your plans in advance to make sure your bump-out will be built right. Then, during construction, another pro will make a house call to inspect your work. Not bad for $50 to $100 (not including plumbing and electrical permit fees).

Completed bathroom

Meet a Pro

Charlie Avoles is one of the licensed master plumbers who checks and double-checks every bit of plumbing info that appears in The Family Handyman. When he’s not nitpicking magazine articles, Charlie is co-owner of St. Paul Pipeworks in St. Paul, Minnesota, and sometimes wears a general contractor hat, as he did for the bump-out shown here.

“A bump-out doesn’t add a lot of square footage, but think of it this way: This bathroom grew by more than 25 percent!”
Charlie Avoles

Before you cut a hole in your house...

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Install a shoring wall

Install a temporary shoring wall to hold things up while you cut the hole, extend the floor and set the header.

In most cases, you’ll need to build a “shoring wall” (a temporary stud wall) inside the house, a couple of feet from the exterior wall. The shoring wall will support the ceiling and walls above while you cut a hole in the wall and install the header.

Bump-out addition details

A Header Supports the Weight Above

When you remove a section of wall, you need to add a header in its place. Charlie’s bump-out called for a doubled 2x8 header, but there’s no easy rule of thumb for sizing a header—check with your building inspector. In some (rare) situations, no header is needed.

How far can a bump-out bump out?

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Finished bump-out addition

Cantilevered bump-out distance is limited by the size of the floor joists.

Floor joists can typically cantilever up to four times their depth. So if your existing joists are 2x8s (7-1/4 in. deep), the new joists can extend 29 in. outside (7-1/4 x 4 = 29). Check with your building inspector. A bump-out set on footings is limited only by setback requirements and other local codes.

Two ways to support the floor

Charlie’s bump-out rests on joists that protrude from the house and have no support under them—kind of like a balcony. These “cantilevered” joists are nailed onto the sides of the old joists (called “sistering”) inside the basement. This approach works only if existing joists run the right direction, of course. You can also set a bump-out on footings, just like you’d build a deck. Charlie chose the cantilevered method to avoid digging holes to frost depth (42 in. in southern Minnesota) and pouring concrete footings. Footings are much less work in warmer climates.

New joists must reach far inside

In most cases, cantilevered joists must extend 2 ft. inside the foundation for every 1 ft. outside, so joists that cantilever 2 ft. must reach 4 ft. inside. That may mean moving plumbing, electrical or heating lines that run between existing joists. (So figure out what you’re getting into before you start!) One more thing: You’re going to have to cut out the rim joist to access the joists for sistering in the new ones.

Consider a lower ceiling

Sometimes, a header extending down from the ceiling creates an attractive break in a room. In this case, the header would have been an eyesore centered above the shower. Charlie’s solution was to lower the whole ceiling. That created a flat, uninterrupted ceiling. Plus, a small room feels bigger with a lower ceiling.

Roof lines

A lean-to roof like the one on Charlie’s bump-out is the easiest type to build, and Charlie was able to connect to the existing roofline, for a neater appearance (See Photo above). On many homes, the solution is even simpler: Run the new exterior walls right up to the existing roof soffit and you won’t need any roof at all. You’ll have to limit the depth of the bump-out to the depth of the roof overhang, of course.