Everything You Need to Know About Second Story Additions

A second-story addition involves adding a new level on top of an existing single-story home. This type of project can significantly increase the living space of a home, providing room for extra bedrooms, bathrooms, or even a home office or recreational space. It’s an ideal solution for homeowners who need more space but don’t want to move or build a new home from scratch.

However, the second-story addition is a complex project that requires expert planning, design, and construction. That’s where Top Home Builders comes in – we have over 20 years of experience and a team of experts who can provide comprehensive consultation, custom design, and high-quality construction to ensure your adding a second story to the house project is a success.

Depending on your house, the cost differs. Usually, adding a second story on a 2000-square-foot house ranges between $150,000 and $200,000. It surprisingly costs more to add another story than build a story from the very ground.

As a homeowner, you have the option to go for a partial second-story addition. This can be done by adding a story to your garage instead of your main floor. But this too will require replacing the existing garage and changing the slab so it can sustain an addition.

There are many reasons why a second story costs more than adding a new space on the ground. One of the main causes is the removal of the roofing system. This also means realigning the insulation, building a new roof on top of your second story, and re-wiring the electricals for heat or cooling. There is also a lot of plumbing work required for this. You also need a new staircase which adds to the cost of this construction. There are various structural changes that your contractor may deem fit to add a new story safely to your house. These are some factors that make this construction an expensive affair.

It depends on the nature of the construction and usually, your contractor should determine whether it is safe for you to live in the property while building a second story. But if it is a partial-story construction, you can certainly live in the house while some areas may be closed down till the construction is completed. However, it is best to find temporary accommodation during the construction process.

In most areas, adding a second story to a house is legal. However, the case differs. Mostly independent houses are allowed to do so. Building a second floor also depends on what area of your house are you planning to add a floor to. For legalities related to this construction, the following are the things you should consider:

• There Will Be Certain Municipal Zoning Requirements that Are Applicable
• You Need to Get the Necessary Building Permits Before You Begin the Construction.
• You Must Have a Contractor for This Project so The Design Is Done as Per Building Codes.
• There May Be Inspections During the Construction to Ensure the Addition Is Happening in Compliance with The Building Codes.