Looking at townhome listings in VA--what is a "bumpout"?

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Some listings have that listed and I do not know what it is.

TIA.

 

[lovemygoofy]

They are windows..the 3 windows next to each other that make an bump giving more of a panoramic view. I have one in my front room and another upstairs in a bedroom.

 

[kbeverina]

Some listings have that listed and I do not know what it is.

TIA.

A bump-out is an option when you're building to add extra square footage on to one or more levels. So if you see a "3-level bump-out", extra space has been added on to all three levels of the standard model and it bumps out into the yard beyond what it would. Sometimes people just add on to one or two levels, so you'll see "2-level bump-out" or "main level bump-out", etc.

 

[puffkin]

Around here people usually do it in the eat in or breakfast nook part of the kitchen. Gives a little extra room and nice panaramic views. It actually is very nice if the house already has it, but if it is an option (new construction) I don't know if I would pay a whole lot for it.

 

[Christine]

A bump-out is an option when you're building to add extra square footage on to one or more levels. So if you see a "3-level bump-out", extra space has been added on to all three levels of the standard model and it bumps out into the yard beyond what it would. Sometimes people just add on to one or two levels, so you'll see "2-level bump-out" or "main level bump-out", etc.

As said above, they take the standard model and add bump-outs as options. Sometimes a bump-out will add 5 feet off your living room and/or kitchen depending on the configuration. As said, it is is sometimes one, two, or three levels.

 

[trip]

If the bumpout is on the main level, the basement doesn't go under that part. The floor in the that area tends to get alittle chilly in the winter.

 

[hiwaygal]

If the bumpout is on the main level, the basement doesn't go under that part. The floor in the that area tends to get alittle chilly in the winter.

Depending on where you are in Virginia, the 'basement' may not be an issue.

In general, many (if not most) houses in the coastal areas do not have basements.

 

[Christine]

If the bumpout is on the main level, the basement doesn't go under that part. The floor in the that area tends to get alittle chilly in the winter.

Yes. Basically there is a standard foundation and the extra square-footage is bumped out from that. Although I have seen the actual foundation bumped out too.

 

[kbeverina]

In a lot of townhouses (at least in this area), the basement isn't underground or just the front is underground and the back is a walk-out that's totally open. A lot of single-families also have the walk-out basement that's underground in the front and level to the ground in the back. So you could have all three levels bumped out in the back.

 

[Christine]

In a lot of townhouses (at least in this area), the basement isn't underground or just the front is underground and the back is a walk-out that's totally open. A lot of single-families also have the walk-out basement that's underground in the front and level to the ground in the back. So you could have all three levels bumped out in the back.

My parents townhouse is fully out of the ground and she has a two car garage in her "basement."

I've noticed that most new construction townhomes have the basement fully out of the ground, while some of the older townhomes will have the basement fully underground or will have the front of the basement underground and the back will be exposed so you can walk out.