Second Story Addition in Houston: Get The Best Professional Services For Your Project
Second-story addition in Houston allows you to have many other living spaces on your existing first story without needing extra ground space for the new rooms. No matter the purpose of the new room additions, letting your project be handled by experts gives endless chances of getting the best finished project.
Homeowners in Houston love it when they work with a professional who understands the ups and downs of home additions firsthand. When you begin to search for a home remodeling contractor in Houston, you will find several companies offering a range of services. We are proud of our highly knowledgeable team, who work tirelessly to help build your dream home.
Benefits of Adding a Second Story to your House
A second-story addition is one of the most significant home additions you could possibly think of. And although building a second floor on top of your one-story house may sound overwhelming, we can make it happen the best way possible. Furthermore, this decision often comes with several benefits.
- Going upstairs nearly doubles your living area's square footage.
- Stretches strained walls and increase the value and number of rooms in your home.
- Expands the floor space
- The 2nd-floor addition also makes a lot of sense if you have a small yard and want to preserve your beautiful landscape features and maintain a significant exterior space for outdoor living and gardening.
However, that doesn't mean adding a second floor comes without challenges. This addition is typically a complex project, so make sure you understand the entire process and the costs involved before you begin working on your project.
2nd story additions often add a lot of weight to the existing structure, something that the foundation of the house wasn't designed to put up with. In this case, you may have to hire an independent structural engineer to check on the condition of the walls, beams, and slabs and ensure they support the extra weight.
You don't have to worry about remodeling issues when you partner with Smart Remodeling. We have over 10 years of industry experience and know what it takes to integrate a perfect second story into your home to serve you a lifetime.
How Much Does a Second Story Addition Cost?
If your house feels a little cramped, you're probably looking for ways to add some extra space. Moving might not be ideal, especially if you like your current neighborhood and enjoy trail access to local shops, school, work, and even the amazing backyard sunset view. So you're seriously thinking about building a new level, but how much would a second-story addition cost?
Naturally, people have different needs, and every home addition project has its own set of requirements. The cost of building a second floor to your house varies depending on the project size, type, and scope, budget, labor, and the quality of materials used.
According to HomeGuide:
The typical average cost for a 2nd story addition ranges between $100 and $300 per square foot.
Low-end cost range – Expect to pay $100,000 or lower if you are working on a tight budget.
High-end cost range – Costs can rise to as high as $350,000 or more for large and complex projects.
2nd-Floor Remodeling Options
There are various options to add a second story to your home. How you go about it will depend on your house's foundation requirements, the area's building regulations, and personal preferences. Here are some of the ways our experts will help expand your house vertically.
The first option is replacing the roof. Our experts will cut off the first-floor roof carefully and remove it temporarily. We will then put it back once we frame the new level. Secondly, we can build the entire second level from scratch. This involves ripping off the roof and creating a new plan and design.
You can also opt for modular designs, which are often fully built off-site and brought to your home. Alternatively, we can expand the second floor to an existing structure like a porch or garage.
Types of 2nd Floor Additions
The second story addition in Houston comes in different sizes, shapes, and scopes. What you choose depends on your budget, purpose, and the size of space you need.
- Full second story addition
If you need a significant amount of space, you may have to consider a full second story that matches the size of the 1st floor. A complete 2nd-floor addition will cost you about $150,000.00 - $200,000.00 on a 2000 sq. ft. house. These costs are inclusive of all the structural additions and repairs you may need during the construction.
- Partial-story addition
Partial addition is ideal when you're working on a tight budget or in need of a small amount of space. This may involve adding an extra bedroom, garage, or bonus room to your second story. Building a partial 2nd floor can cost anything between $90,000.00 and $120,000.00 on a 500 to 700 sq. ft. range.
- Second story Addition to Your Garage
Adding a new level to your garage can cost about $100,000 up to $150,000. Stretching the same structure to cover your entire garage will cost as much as $200,000 or more, depending on your preferences and requirements.
How Long Does it Take to Build a Second Story Addition?
If it's the first time you're handling this kind of project, you may wonder how long it takes to complete a second story addition Houston. This is a popular question our clients ask us all time during the consultation. An average 2nd-floor addition takes about 3 to 5 months, but the duration can be shorter or longer than that, depending on each project's situation. Many things can affect the time taken to complete a second-floor addition project in Houston. These elements may include;
- The time is taken during the initial planning, design, and consultation process
- The extent to which the first-floor walls need to be fortified
- The size and scope of the addition
- Additional design features
- Weather conditions
- The location of your property
- Expertise and experience of your contractor
If the addition is super complicated, the job can take up to a year to round up.
Foundation Requirements for Adding a Second Story
When you want to create more space, but your lot is small, you might have to expand vertically. But can your foundation bear the extra weight? There are foundation requirements for building a second story. So before you build another level upstairs, you will have to evaluate your house to know the kind of foundation your home is built on.
There are at least two types of foundations-shallow and deep foundations. A shallow foundation goes down into the soil by about one and a half meters and is often cheap and easy to lay.
Shallow foundations can sustain minimum load; examples include the strip and trench foundation. Deep foundations are built to reach the deepest layer of the soil. They can bear a lot of weight, making them suitable for story buildings.
We recommend you hire an engineer to inspect your house to determine its foundation capacity. If it can support another story, you can go ahead and execute your second story addition in Houston. But if the foundation isn't that strong, our experts will carry out the necessary repairs to standardize it.
We will check and add beams and footings to enhance their thickness/width, as well as remove excessive water. Remember that the foundation requirements vary from one location to another.
Benefits of Having a Strong Foundation
Offers stability – A strong foundation should have the ability to receive weight and spread it evenly into the soil. At Smart Remodeling, we design and build study foundations that won't sink no matter the weight exerted on them.
Protection against natural calamities – Whether it is strong winds, earthquakes, or floods, a house built on a solid foundation can remain standing no matter how strong a disaster can get.
Locks out moisture – A solid concrete slab alongside appropriate drainage can keep water away from the house.
Keeps a building upright – Building a house on a strong foundation is a great way to prevent it from collapsing and keep it upright for decades.
Why Choose Smart Remodeling LLC For Your Second Story Addition?
We are customer-centered and will always do our best to ensure the highest quality of the finished project. With our team of talented professionals, we can design and build any additional story that seamlessly fits into your existing architectural framework. We're ar time conscious and budget-sensitive to ensure the completion of the project at no additional cost.
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