Project Overview

Wichita Home Works completed this home addition in Wichita, Kansas for homeowners who wanted to add more usable main-level living space while preserving the charm of their older home.

The project replaced an existing rear structure with a new addition that includes a living room, bathroom, updated patio access, new windows, improved exterior finishes, and a better connection to the backyard. The addition also included important system upgrades, including a new 200-amp electrical service, updated plumbing, a dedicated mini split system, new insulation, updated drainage, and new concrete flatwork.

The finished addition gives the home a brighter and more functional rear living area. Large windows, a sliding patio door, soft blue wall colors, warm LVP flooring, and a new bathroom make the space feel comfortable, useful, and connected to the rest of the home.

The overall style is traditional with transitional updates. The addition respects the home’s older character while adding modern comfort, better function, and a cleaner finished layout.

The Homeowner’s Vision

The goal was to expand the home in a way that felt natural, useful, and appropriate for the existing property.

The homeowners wanted to keep the character of the original home while replacing the older rear area with a more permanent and comfortable addition. They needed a new living space, a bathroom with shower, better access to the backyard, improved windows, updated exterior finishes, and a layout that would make the home more practical.

Wichita Home Works’ in-house design team helped plan the addition footprint, bathroom layout, patio door placement, window locations, roofline, foundation, concrete flatwork, drainage, electrical upgrade, HVAC system, bathroom finishes, flooring, paint colors, trim details, and the transition between the original home and the new space.

The final design created a new main-level living area that adds function without feeling disconnected from the existing home.

Scope of Work

Wichita Home Works coordinated the project from design and demolition through concrete, framing, roofing, siding, mechanical systems, interior finishes, exterior painting, final cleaning, and follow-up refinements.

The project included:

Demolition and Home Preparation

The project began by removing the existing rear addition and preparing the home for a more functional replacement structure.

Wichita Home Works removed the existing walls, windows, exterior door, framing, roof, foundation, attached concrete, and siding on the north side of the home where the new addition would connect. Existing exterior lights were saved for reinstallation where planned.

This early phase created a clean starting point for the new addition, slab foundation, roofline, siding, windows, patio door, and updated interior layout.

Concrete, Foundation and Flatwork

The new addition was built on a slab foundation with reinforced concrete footings. Wichita Home Works coordinated foundation removal, excavation, footing work, slab preparation, steel reinforcement, concrete placement, and finish work.

The concrete scope also included a new patio, sidewalk, and garage apron. The slab was designed to sit higher than the surrounding exterior flatwork to help manage water at the patio door and addition entry points.

French drain connections and underground drainage were added at the new downspout locations to help move water away from the addition and surrounding concrete.

This phase was essential because the new living room, bathroom, patio access, and exterior circulation all depended on proper foundation, grade, and drainage planning.

Framing and Addition Construction

The new addition was framed with 2×4 exterior walls, a treated bottom plate, headers, king and jack studs, interior bathroom framing, pocket door framing, roof trusses, OSB roof decking, Zip System exterior sheathing, and house wrap where needed on the existing home.

The addition includes a main living room and bathroom. The bathroom was framed with a pocket door to make better use of the compact space.

The roof was framed with a 4:12 pitch and 12-inch overhangs to help the addition blend with the existing home. Blocking was also added where needed for bathroom features and TV placement.

Windows and Patio Door

The new addition was designed to bring in natural light.

The project included Weather Barr Cornerstone windows, including three single-hung windows, three fixed transom-style windows, and a smaller fixed bathroom window. These windows give the living room a brighter feel while adding privacy and light in the bathroom.

A Weather Barr Pinnacle sliding patio door with screen and color-matched hardware was installed on the north wall of the addition. This gives the new living room a direct connection to the patio and backyard.

The finished window and door layout helps the new space feel open, bright, and connected to the outdoors.

Roofing, Siding and Gutters

The addition was finished with Tamko Heritage Weathered Wood shingles, matching ridge cap, synthetic felt, brown drip edge, roof vents, and a pipe boot for the bathroom vent.

The north wall of the existing home and the new addition received LP SmartSide siding and trim. Window and door trim were detailed with LP Smart Trim, and the siding was painted to coordinate with the existing home.

New white gutters and downspouts were installed on the addition and tied into the underground drainage system. These exterior details helped the addition feel like a natural part of the house instead of a separate add-on.

Electrical Service and Lighting

This project included a major electrical service upgrade to support the addition and improve the home’s electrical capacity.

Wichita Home Works coordinated a new 200-amp service meter box with disconnect, overhead service coordination, new service wiring, grounding, updated interior panel, new breakers, and added circuits where needed.

Inside the addition, the electrical plan included outlets in the living room, a TV outlet, a dedicated circuit for the mini split, six LED puck lights, a ceiling fan with light kit, bathroom fan and heater, vanity light, shower light, GFCI outlet, and exterior lighting.

The electrical work helped support the new living room, bathroom, lighting layout, HVAC system, and overall function of the addition.

Plumbing and Bathroom Fixtures

The new bathroom required plumbing connections from the existing home to the addition.

Wichita Home Works tied into the existing main waste stack, roughed in the sink, toilet, shower valve, shower drain, and shower fixtures, and completed final plumbing fixture installation.

The bathroom includes an American Standard ADA-height elongated toilet, Delta Trinsic stainless single-handle faucet, stainless shower valve trim, integrated diverter, slide bar hand shower, wall elbow, raincan shower head, shower arm, and flange.

The plumbing package created a complete bathroom within the new addition, making the space more useful for daily living and guests.

HVAC and Comfort

The addition was served by an LG ducted mini split system with an inverter heat pump and air handler.

This system provides dedicated comfort control for the living room and bathroom, helping the addition remain usable in different Kansas seasons. The bathroom also includes a fan/heater combination for additional comfort.

The HVAC system was an important part of making the addition feel like a finished living space rather than a seasonal room.

Insulation and Drywall

The addition received R13 faced insulation in the exterior walls and common wall areas, along with loose-fill ceiling insulation to R38.

Gaps, baseplates, exterior corners, electrical penetrations, and plumbing penetrations were sealed as part of the insulation process. Rafter air chutes were installed where needed for ventilation.

The living room and bathroom were finished with drywall, knockdown ceiling texture, smooth wall finishes, and ceiling paint. The bathroom received moisture-resistant board where appropriate.

These steps gave the addition a clean, comfortable interior finish.

Bathroom Finishes

The bathroom was designed to be compact, durable, and comfortable.

The vanity area includes a maple linen cabinet, an Onyx Vacation gloss smooth countertop with integrated backsplash and left sidesplash, a non-recessed white oval sink, brushed nickel hardware, and a customer-provided vanity mirror.

The shower includes an Onyx Vacation gloss smooth shower pan with a low-profile rectangular design and pebbled surface floor. The shower walls are Onyx Vacation gloss smooth panels, paired with an Onyx recessed Liberty Tower caddy and an Onyx enclosed shower bench.

A frameless heavy-glass bypass sliding shower door with brushed nickel hardware and towel bars completes the shower.

The bathroom floor was finished with Fabrique 12×24 Unpolished Noir Linen tile in an offset pattern with charcoal grout.

Flooring, Paint and Trim

The living room received Mannington Adura Max Napa Tannin LVP flooring, installed north to south. This warm flooring helps the addition feel comfortable and connected to the home.

The stairs between the existing home and the addition received carpet with premium cushion, creating a softer transition between levels.

The living room walls were painted Sherwin-Williams Meander Blue, while the bathroom walls were painted Sherwin-Williams Raindrop. These colors give the addition a fresh, cheerful, and slightly historic feel that works well with the character of the home.

Trim carpentry included poplar baseboards, casing, pine jamb extensions, bathroom door trim, window trim, and finish details around the French door opening, patio door, bathroom door, and windows.

Exterior Painting and Final Details

The exterior siding and trim were painted to coordinate with the existing home. The goal was to make the new addition look like it belonged with the original structure.

Final finish work included cabinet hardware, bath accessories, mirror installation, solar light placement, touch-up painting, trim refinements, cleaning, photos, and final walkthrough preparation.

After the homeowners had time to use the addition, Wichita Home Works also returned for a small exterior water-management refinement at a downspout connection. The team adjusted the downspout direction and confirmed the attic area was dry, helping support long-term performance and homeowner confidence.

Design and Finish Details

This project has a traditional style with transitional updates.

The home itself has strong older-house character, so the addition needed to feel respectful rather than overly modern. The exterior siding, trim, roofline, window proportions, and paint were coordinated to blend with the original structure.

Inside, the blue-green wall colors, warm wood-look flooring, white trim, linen cabinetry, brushed nickel fixtures, and simple bathroom finishes create a clean but comfortable look.

The Onyx shower and vanity top provide easy-to-maintain bathroom surfaces, while the tile floor adds texture and durability. The large windows and patio door help the new living area feel bright and useful throughout the day.

Construction Story

This project began with the goal of replacing an older rear structure with a more functional main-level addition.

The early work focused on removing the existing addition, preparing the foundation area, and coordinating access for concrete and framing. Once the new slab and footings were in place, the new living room and bathroom began to take shape.

The framing phase defined the addition’s layout, including the main living area, bathroom, pocket door, window openings, patio door, roofline, and connection to the original home. From there, Wichita Home Works coordinated roofing, siding, exterior trim, windows, door installation, electrical service work, plumbing, HVAC, insulation, drywall, and finish work.

As the interior came together, the addition began to feel like a natural extension of the home. The Meander Blue living room walls, Raindrop bathroom walls, warm LVP flooring, Onyx bathroom finishes, and large windows gave the space personality and comfort.

The final phase focused on the details that make an addition feel complete: window trim, bathroom accessories, cabinet installation, shower finishes, paint touch-ups, handrail placement, backfill, cleaning, final photos, and exterior refinements.

The homeowners were excited with the transformation, and the finished project shows how a smaller addition can make a major difference in how a home functions.

Project Coordination Highlights

Older Home Integration

The original home was built in 1926, so the addition needed to respect the existing structure while improving comfort, layout, and function.

Main-Level Living Space

The new living room added valuable finished square footage and gave the home a brighter, more usable rear gathering space.

Added Bathroom Function

The addition included a new bathroom with shower, vanity, toilet, tile flooring, and Onyx surfaces, adding convenience to the main level.

Outdoor Connection

The sliding patio door, new patio, sidewalk, garage apron, and drainage work improved the way the home connects to the backyard.

Electrical System Upgrade

A new 200-amp service and updated panel supported the addition while improving the home’s overall electrical capacity.

Exterior Blend

LP SmartSide siding, coordinated paint, matching roof materials, new gutters, and careful trim details helped the addition feel connected to the original home.

The Finished Result

The finished Murdock addition gives the home more livable space, better backyard access, and a much more functional main level.

The new living room is bright and comfortable, with large windows, warm flooring, soft wall color, ceiling lighting, a ceiling fan, and a sliding patio door to the backyard.

The new bathroom adds important convenience with a shower, vanity, toilet, tile floor, Onyx surfaces, and brushed nickel fixtures.

Outside, the new siding, roofline, gutters, patio, sidewalk, garage apron, and drainage improvements help the addition feel complete and integrated into the property.

The result is a thoughtful home addition that respects the character of an older Wichita home while adding the comfort and function the homeowners needed.

Why This Project Matters for Future Addition Clients

This project is a strong example for homeowners who love their older home but need it to work better.

A home addition can add space, but it can also solve layout challenges, improve access to the backyard, add a bathroom, update electrical service, improve comfort with dedicated HVAC, and refresh the exterior at the same time.

For homeowners near Wichita, College Hill, Crown Heights, Eastborough, Bel Aire, Andover, Derby, and nearby communities, this project shows how Wichita Home Works can help expand an older home while keeping the finished result connected to the original character.

Thinking About a Similar Home Addition?

If you are planning a living room addition, bathroom addition, rear home expansion, patio update, siding refresh, electrical service upgrade, or older-home remodel near Wichita, Wichita Home Works can help you think through the full project.

That includes layout, foundation, roofline, windows, doors, siding, gutters, drainage, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, insulation, bathroom finishes, flooring, paint, trim, timeline expectations, and final finish details.

A home addition has many connected decisions. The right design-build team helps organize those decisions into a clear, manageable process from planning through completion.

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