Adding a story to your house

  • Adding a story to your house

Adding a story to your house:

If your house has become to small for your needs you have two options: move to a new house or adding a story to your house. For many people, moving would mean leaving friends and family, or an amazing property. Children, especially can have a hard time changing schools and leaving their friends behind. In this case, adding a story to your home can be a great way to double your square footage.

Adding a story to your house is certainly not a simple process, but the extra space and equity can be worth it. Sometime adding a story will give you a better view of mountains or bodies of water. And the best part is that you don’t have to leave the place where you have laid down roots. However, adding a story to your house is a technically complex project. Not just any handyman is going to be able to help you.

Adding a story to your house – above or underneath?

Adding a story to your house raises the question: Should you lift your home and a story build beneath effectively making your current structure the second story? Or should you or remove your roof and build the second story on top of your existing structure.

The first thing you will need when adding a story to your house is an engineer. They will determine whether your existing structure can handle the additional load of an added story. Sometimes it will, more likely it will with modifications, and sometimes it just wont. They will also assess whether your roof can be safely removed and placed on the added story.

Depending on the feedback you get, you may find that lifting your house and adding a story underneath the existing structure is the best option. Some of the advantages are:

  • The foundation can often be shored up at little relative expense as your house will be lifted off of the foundation anyway.
  • No need to to remove your roof.
  • You will not be putting stress load onto a structure that was not built for it initially.
  • There is no limit on the square footage that you can build into the lower level

Reach out to Kunkel Moving and Raising today!

We have over 100 years of experience and generational knowledge when it comes to lifting homes small and large. We are expert foundation craftsmen, and our engineers are top notch. We offer the finest quality craftmanship in the Puget Sound region, and 100% free consultation when you are considering adding a story to your house. Call us today at 1-800-490-4220 or  reach out to us online. We will be happy to assist you!

 

Categories

About the Author: