Thinking about expanding your home with a new room, garage, or sunroom addition? A home addition is one of the best ways to add space, comfort, and value to your property. But before any contractor cuts into your walls or digs into your yard, every homeowner in Ohio should understand the permits, prints, and process that keep your investment protected.
At Butler Building, we’ve seen too many projects go wrong because homeowners didn’t know the rules—or hired the wrong contractor. This blog will walk you through the essentials so you can make smart, safe decisions for your home.
Why Permits Matter for Home Additions in Ohio
Before starting any major construction, Ohio building departments require permits. These permits ensure your project meets building codes for safety and quality. Without them, you risk:
🚫 Stop-Work Orders: Cities can shut down your project immediately.
💰 Fines and Delays: You may face hefty fees or have to wait weeks for approval.
🏚️ Costly Redos: If work isn’t up to code, inspectors may require you to tear it out and rebuild.
📉 Lower Home Value: Unpermitted work can hurt resale value or even block a sale.
⚖️ Homeowner Liability: As the property owner, you may be held responsible for violations—even if your contractor skipped the permits.
👉 Best Practice: Always require your contractor to pull permits under their company license. This makes them accountable for code compliance and inspections.
Prints: The Roadmap to Your Project
Architectural drawings—commonly called “prints”—are more than just paperwork. They’re the blueprint for success in any home addition. Prints ensure:
Your addition is designed safely and structurally sound.
City inspectors know exactly what’s being built.
Every contractor and trade works from the same plan, reducing costly mistakes.
Without prints, you’re building blindly—and that’s a recipe for disaster.
The Risks of Hiring the Wrong Contractor
Unfortunately, some homeowners learn the hard way that not all contractors play by the rules. An unqualified or unlicensed contractor may:
Skip permits to cut corners.
Build without inspections.
Leave you with unsafe structures, leaks, or foundation problems.
Walk away when issues arise, leaving you with costly repairs.
🚫 Remember: A low bid today can turn into a high-cost nightmare tomorrow.
How to Choose the Right Contractor for a Home Addition
Here are 5 tips every Ohio homeowner should follow before signing a contract:
✔️ Ask for proof of license and insurance.
✔️ Confirm they handle permits in their name, not yours.
✔️ Request references for similar home additions.
✔️ Insist on a written contract with clear timelines and details.
✔️ Avoid cash-only deals or contractors who pressure you to skip inspections.
Butler Building: Your Trusted Local Remodeling Contractor
As a local remodeling contractor in Northeast Ohio with 25+ years of experience, Butler Building handles the entire process—from prints to permits to inspections. Our team ensures your home addition is safe, up to code, and built to last.
Whether you’re searching for “home remodeling Medina,” “general contractor near me,” “kitchen remodeler near me,” or “basement remodeling Akron,” Butler Building is the trusted name homeowners call first.
Because before anyone makes a hole in your home, you deserve a contractor who builds it right the first time.