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Most Cape Cod houses are two stories tall at the peak, although they’re considered one-and-a-half stories tall because the steep roof pitch cuts off a portion of the living space on the second story. Unless you raise the roof on your Cape Cod house to add a dormer, the interior rooms upstairs will lose some usable living space to the sloped ceilings.

A bow window costs up to $15,000 to install in total. Materials cost anywhere from $1,200 to more than $14,000, and labor is an additional $300 to $1,900. Bow window costs vary based on the size of the window and the frame material. You’ll spend more for custom features or energy-efficient upgrades, too. For comparison, bay window installation costs about $1,000 to $7,000. 

You can enclose an open carport, however, there are several things to consider before opting to do so. You'll want to check local building codes and permit requirements before proceeding to make sure it’s legal. While you can sometimes stick-frame a carport enclosure, pre-fab kits are also available. Remember that you'll likely need to meet concrete slab regulations and provide lighting inside the structure. Both of which could substantially drive up costs.

There are some rules regarding how far your exterior bump-out can go. For a cantilever bump-out that avoids the need to provide additional structural support, the limit is often 24 inches. However, if a footing and foundation are part of the project, a bump-out can encompass a whole room or more. Remember that many residential properties are subject to limits regarding the total house size relating to the size of the lot.