How Much Does It Cost to Put a Second Story Addition on a Ranch House?
Many families simply outgrow their homes and find the need for additional living space. However, most people don’t want to leave their beloved dwellings and are faced with a bit of a conundrum – do I move to a larger home or add an addition to my existing home?
If you’d like a bigger home but don’t want to move then the best solution could be to add a second story to your existing ranch style house.
Cost Of a Second Story Addition On a Ranch Home
The cost of adding a story to a ranch house will depend on the size and your specific needs but it will increase the value of your home when all is said and done. You also need to factor in your location, the quality of materials used and the hours of labour needed. In general though, the cost is typically anywhere from $250 to $300+ per square-foot. This may increase if you plan on adding another bathroom to the upper level while building it.
You’ll be able to save some time & money if you can hire a Design-Build contractor that is licensed and fully-insured. These “all in one” companies can take care of all the requirements such as permits, architectural, structural engineering, plumbing, electrical and carpentry etc.
Building Up Our Out
If you decide to build out rather than build upward you’d need to extend the perimeter of the home outward which means a new foundation needs to be poured. In addition, you’d lose some of your existing property and yard space and you may need to get zoning permission for the project. Here in Toronto, lot sizes tend to be small and the popular option is to usually go up rather than you when possible.
Building a second story on a ranch house is typically less expensive even if you do need to build a staircase. You may also need to have the home’s existing foundation strengthened to support the additional weight is a second story addition.
The more rooms you add in your upper story will also affect the overall price. Of course, more rooms means more walls, doors and possibly windows etc. And as previously mentioned, if you plan on adding a bathroom this could add a considerable amount to your final bill.
Since an additional story to a ranch house adds a significant amount of weight to the home, an engineer is required to come up with a set of detailed plans and this could cost $10,000 or more. This isn’t much though considering the average cost of an additional story on a 2,000 square-foot home can cost anywhere from $500,000 to $700,000+.
The existing roof needs to be demolished and the plumbing, heating and air conditioning need to be altered during the project as well. In many cases, you may also need to relocate while the construction is taking place as your home may not be livable.
Find a Quality Home Addition Contractor
Since adding a second story to a ranch house is a complicated task you’ll need to find a home addition contractor who’s experienced in this type of work. Structural walls need to be knocked out and the new story needs to be tied into existing mechanical systems.
When searching for a suitable, skilled contractor be sure the firm has certifications in construction and remodeling. You should verify that the company is licensed and insured and ask for references and a portfolio of their prior work. It’s important to ask if they use subcontractors and if they do, how do they screen and select them. You also need to find out how long the project will take and have all estimates etc. put in writing. It’s also a good idea to agree on a payment schedule before the work begins.
No matter how well you’ve planned and organized things, you may find that everything doesn’t always go according to plan. Ask about the builder’s change-order policy in case you change your mind about specific details during the project.
About Novacon Construction
Novacon Construction is an award winning Design-Build contracting company based in Toronto. We specialize in large scale home additions and custom homes and manage all details of the construction process, from the conceptual design phase, pre-construction planning/interior design, right through to the hands-on construction of the project. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Experience the difference of what working with a real client-centric contractor specialist feels like.
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