What to expect in a second story addition

As homeowners, we often find ourselves looking for ways to improve our living space so that there is more room to get things done or perhaps entertain. Often we can move outside by adding a new room or two, but depending on your lot size, that can be challenging. However, there is an alternative: you can choose to add a second floor.

When it comes to adding an upstairs to your home, there are a variety of things to consider. After all, not every home lends itself well to a second-story addition, nor are all new additions easy to transform. Consequently, there are a number of aspects to consider. These items include:

· Make sure it is allowed. From homeowners associations to city rules and regulations, there are often parameters you need to adhere to when building a second-story addition. Things like floor area ratios, lot coverage, and other elements that need to be followed before getting too involved in the planning and dream part of the build.

· Talk to an architect to determine your options for the upstairs addition. They can draft sketches that give you options on how to best use the available space.

Have someone check the foundation and structure. Sometimes a house’s foundation is designed to only support a specific amount of weight. As a result, adding a new floor to the house would be detrimental to the stability of the structure. An inspector or engineer will be able to survey the area and tell you how much additional weight the structure can support.

· Consider having a place to stay during construction. Depending on the scope of the project, you may need to think about where you will be living during the construction process.

· Make sure you work with a reputable contractor and then find out who is responsible for getting the building.

Take the time to clean out the attic before starting the job. Don’t wait until start day to move things. Look at the time before work as the perfect time to divide and conquer so that when the build is complete, you can really use the space to its full potential.

Adding a second story to your home is a great way to make organization easier, have more space for living or entertaining, and add property value to your home. Talk to a local builder today.