Are you growing out of your home? Do you need a little more space? More and more homeowners are making the decision to add a second story to their home to increase the size and value of their home. Second story additions add significant value to a home, yet it comes with a price. Adding a second story onto your home is a commitment. Understanding the technically advanced process of said commitment can help relieve unnecessary stress or burden. Before the home renovations can be conducted, it is important to get a thorough analysis of the home. This “analysis” will survey your home for potential structure issues, particularly of the slab or pier and beam foundations. However, before you begin the analysis it is important to evaluate your home and determine if this addition is worth the investment.
Evaluate The Neighborhood
As much as we hate the expression ‘keeping up with the Joneses’, comparison of homes is necessary when proposed additions are at stake. Observe your neighboring homes, compare in terms of size, appearance, and features. With an addition onto the house, will your home be outside the norm? If it is out of scale with rest of neighborhood, it may affect resale value. A tax assessor’s website will also prove helpful with property value information, as well as provide an indicator for future property taxes with the proposed addition.
Visualize Your Plans
Visualizing the finished product will help you in the process of developing a master plan. Understanding how the addition will flow with the rest of the house is crucial in establishing exit and entry points, along with new traffic patterns for each room. With second story additions, there are three basic ways to expand. One is to tear off the roof and build an upper level. A second option is to sever the existing roof and lift it off temporarily to replace after new addition has been framed in. Lastly, an addition can be expanded out across an existing one-story section such as a flat roof garage or porch.
Consider Your Property
When drawing the design plans with the architect, avoid awkward massing with roof pitches, overhangs, porches or trim details. Check with city officials first, as there may be height restrictions with local building codes. Have a structural engineer evaluate your home’s foundation and framing to be sure the foundation can support a multi-level structure. Consider the window sizes and shapes when placing in the second story addition. The new windows should coordinate in proportion with existing story for a well balanced exterior.
Contact Marrokal For A Free Home Evaluation Consultation
Marrokal’s Build Team of design consultants, interior designers, project managers, and project designers will be the team that puts it all together. Our trustworthy, experienced individuals respect your home as much as their own and will be able to turn your dream into a reality.