When you’re planning to expand your home, it can be exciting to think about all the different possibilities available to you as a homeowner. It can also be incredibly stressful and confusing. Planning to build a second story involves a lot of hard work, research, and dedication on your part. From figuring out how you want everything to look to hiring the perfect contractor from Metropolitan Contractors, creating your home’s second story can end up being a years-long process. However, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you know what you’re looking for. If you’re in the market for a second level home addition, here are some things to be aware of down the line.
Your Options
When planning out your second story, the first thing you’ll want to consider is how you want your addition to be built. Most homeowners go with one out of three options. The first is to get rid of the roof entirely and build a new level from scratch. The next is to lift your current roof and put it back on after construction is done. Obviously, this plan leaves you a bit more vulnerable to the elements, so if you’re living in a stormy or otherwise tempestuous climate, or if your roof is already showing signs of weakness and wear, it might not be the best option. The third option is to build a small addition that protrudes out of a pre-existing second story, such as a small patio, porch, or add-on room.
Your Costs
After you’ve figured out how you want to build your second story, you’ll need to work out a budget. Depending on what you want specifically from your second level, your expansion could end up costing a lot of money if you don’t know what you’re doing. Even if you’re totally firm on your plans and have already hired your contractor, you’ll probably end up paying a bit more than what you counted on when you add in foundation checks and other maintenance work. Whether you remodel or rebuild from scratch, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got the cash to cover safety, maintenance, and basic building fees. That means thinking about height and structure requirements beforehand and never skimping on basic safety checks. If your foundation can’t support your extra story, you’re going to end up having a ton of expensive and dangerous problems on your hands in the long run.
Your Potential Complications
Every building project comes up against a few hitches and snares. When it comes to building an entire layer on top of your house, you want to be extra prepared. Whether that means sitting down with a number of experienced contractors to assess risks, getting a balanced sense of how long the project is going to take, or taking out that extra loan to do your remodel, you’re going to want to keep on top of anything and everything that could crop up in the course of your building projects. Have multiple backup plans and remember to stay flexible. Even if your dream house doesn’t end up looking exactly the way you planned, you’ll still be creating a new and better home for yourself in the long run.