Things to Consider Before Planning a Second-Story Addition

Planning a home addition is a significant undertaking. You’ll first have to determine whether building up is a better option than building out. If the former works for you, remember that it comes with various challenges. In particular, you’ll need to know if your current home can handle a second story. Trusted home remodeling company Owens Construction explains everything you need to know.

Checking Your Foundations’ Load Capacity

Your home’s foundations support the load-bearing walls and floors, but they have a limit as to how much load they can handle. Get in touch with an engineer who can assess and analyze the foundations to determine if they can bear the weight of a second-story addition. Tests will be conducted, and if the results show that they can handle the additional load, you can start building up to add more square footage to your home.

Assessing the Current State of Your Foundation

The load capacity of your home’s foundations won’t matter if these aren’t in good condition. Having your walls inspected for cracks and other signs of damage is imperative in this instance. For this, you need to work with reliable remodeling contractors like us who can perform a thorough inspection of your home’s existing foundations. Get in touch with us to learn more about our design/build agreements.

Considering Wind Resistance

Building a second-story addition needs to take wind resistance into account. If the structure isn’t built to withstand excessive wind pressure, expect it to suffer damage during severe weather. The new framing should be reinforced to ensure adequate resistance to wind uplift. Steel straps can also be used to connect the second-story structure to your main house.

Whatever space you dream of, Owens Construction can efficiently handle every phase of the project. Let one of our experienced team members guide you through your many options and help you find the best solution for your needs. In addition to two-story additions, we also specialize in bathroom and kitchen renovation. Give us a call at (614) 846-1149 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.