Questions You Need to Consider When Adding a Second Story

Planning a second story addition on your home can be very complicated, especially if you have no idea of how it can be done. You may even have a lot of features you want to add to your design and maximize the space, but that doesn’t mean your home or your budget can afford them all. This is when hiring home remodeling contractors are needed. They can guide you in every step of the process. Make sure to ask these questions when discussing how your second story project will turn out. 

“Can My Existing Structure Support the Additional Weight?”

You may need to discuss this extensively with your hired contractors since they’ll have to closely check whether your home’s existing foundations can support the new addition. The design will have to be efficient to ensure that your home can handle the load. Some solutions may look intuitive, but they may also break your budget. Make sure to discuss this together with your hired contractor to come up with a cost-effective solution.

“Are My Existing Mechanical and Plumbing Systems Sufficient?” 

The special trades need to be involved early in the planning and design stages to assist the contractor on what changes are necessary to the existing mechanical, plumbing and electric systems. Home remodeling contractors will usually need to provide input to the special trades as to how their solutions affect the budget and execution. Some of the proposed solutions are not always the final course of action, but you still need to consider which one is the most effective in efficiently modifying your HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems.

“How Will My Existing Ductwork and Ventilation Be Modified?” 

During the planning stages of adding a second story, solutions to extending or eliminating existing attic duct work, wiring and plumbing vents need careful consideration. Duct work also includes existing bathroom and kitchen ventilation so make sure to consider these as well when discussing possible solutions with your hired contractor. 

When it comes to excellent second story additions, only locally trusted new addition contractors can help make such projects a reality. Call Design Build Remodeling Group of Maryland today at (443) 300-2268, or you can reach us online by filling out our contact form. We serve Baltimore and nearby areas.