Does your home suddenly seems smaller simply because your family is growing or you’ve taken in elderly parents or rebounding adult children that may even include grandchildren? If your house has only one level, you may be able to add more living space by converting your ranch style home into a two-story structure. Here are some of the benefits of adding a second level to your Maryland single-story home, along with some basic considerations.
Advantages of a Two-Story Addition
Adding a second story to a home has benefits, such as:
- Your resale home value can increase. Keep in mind that a second-story addition can let you change the look of the exterior of your house so that it draws more attention, as well as provides additional living space.
- You don’t have to sell your home and move to a new neighborhood—This means that your kids can remain in their school.
- It gives you the opportunity to make needed changes on your first floor that are more affordable than if you had done them as one home project. For example, you could increase the height of your kitchen ceiling or include a spiral stairway.
- If you have a small lot, you don’t have to give up yard space by adding more room horizontally as a vertical addition makes more sense. This provides room for outdoor living and gardening, besides more privacy from your neighbors.
Consider Your Neighborhood
One of your main considerations should be ensuring that your new addition is compatible with the homes in your neighborhood. Before making any plans for a second edition, take photos of neighborhood homes so that you can show your contractor the features of other homes near you. You want to be sure that your second-story addition won’t clash with other houses on your block as this can compromise resale value.
Decide on Second-floor Heating and Cooling
Rather than extending your first-floor heating and cooling systems to your new second level, it’s better to include a separate, new unit to your second story. Keep in mind that your second level will be the hottest area of your home. Also, you can save on energy costs by shutting off the heat or air conditioning at night or when the second floor isn’t occupied.
Additional Considerations and Warnings
- Consider that two-story additions usually cost more than other home improvements.
- Contact a real estate agent for a “comps” list, which is a report comparing home values in a neighborhood or area. In most cases, realtors give this information without charging.
- Ensure that your second floor is kept in unison with your first floor. This means that your second-floor windows, eaves, trim and other items are in the correct proportion to a house’s overall size.
- Consider how adding a staircase can affect your existing floor plan.
- If the cost is beyond your budget, maybe you could do only a partial second-floor addition. This can still add beauty to your home, while decreasing the cost.
- Determine how plumbing from a second-story bathroom connects to your existing plumbing.
- Consider your foundation structure—Because not all house foundations are able to support more than one level, you’ll need to be sure that your foundation is strong enough to do the job. That’s why it’s important to have a qualified structural engineer access the foundation of your home before you even start to add a second story.
- Decide if new sewer lines or electrical circuits will be able to manage the additional load of a second story.
- Inspect building codes and zoning ordinances—You need to be sure that second story additions are allowed in your area.
- Check for setback regulations.
For more information, call the professionals at Hopkins and Porter. Our residential architecture design/build firm has an excellent reputation for serving homeowners in Northwest Washing, DC, as well as Southern Montgomery County and certain areas in Virginia. Please contact us.
