Second-Story
Attic and second-floor build-outs have become an important part of LivCo’s portfolio — not only for the valuable spaces they provide our clients but also for the sensitivity our design process lends to the neighborhood and history of the home.
For second-story addition remodeling services in the Chicago, Illinois, area, trust LivCo. Contact our team to learn more about our home addition remodeling services.
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Our Approach to Second-Story Additions
A second-floor addition is often a strategic choice when considering home remodeling, especially for homeowners with limited lot space. Preserving outdoor areas for gardening, leisure, or maintaining a comfortable distance from neighbors becomes crucial. Your property might also have unique landscape elements, like an ancient shade tree or a picturesque pergola draped in wisteria, which you’d prefer to retain.
A growing family can benefit from the added privacy a second story provides. It’s not just about adding more rooms; it’s also an opportunity to reimagine the existing space. You can elevate the main floor walls for a more spacious feel and reconfigure the downstairs by combining smaller rooms, especially if they become redundant with the new upstairs addition.
In cities like Chicago, with its rich inventory of historic bungalows, it’s essential to approach every second-story addition with sensitivity and precision. At LivCo, for instance, every project starts with a site-specific analysis, considering neighboring rooflines, natural light, and historic context. Instead of immediately proposing a complete roof replacement, the focus is optimizing the existing space.
This approach saves money, respects the home’s original design, reduces waste by keeping the roof out of landfills, and often results in unique and captivating interior spaces.
Interested in a second-story home addition in the Chicago area? Look no further than LivCo. Call us to get started today.
Why Add a Second Story to Your Home?
Adding a second story gives you more functional areas that are fully customizable to fit your needs while preserving outdoor space and boosting property value.
The Benefits of a Second-Story Addition
A second-story addition can benefit you in many ways, including:
- Maximize your space: Create additional bedrooms, bathrooms, or living areas without moving.
- Increase your home value: Significantly raise the resale value of your home.
- Avoid the hassle of moving: Stay in your current location while upgrading your living space.
- Customization: Tailor the new space to suit your specific needs and style.
Our Second-Story Addition Services
At LivCo, we offer a range of second-story addition services to make the process seamless and stress-free.
Our services include:
- Permits and regulations: Handling all zoning, permits, and legal requirements for your project.
- Structural engineering: Ensuring your home can support the additional load with expert structural work.
- Construction and build: Professional construction services for the safe, timely, and efficient building of your second story.
- Roofing and exterior work: Matching the new addition with your home’s existing design and roofline.
- Interior finishes: Customizing the interiors with flooring, paint, lighting, and design features that complement your home.
Our Second-Story Additions Design & Build Process
Our design-and-build process includes three main steps: Concept, Create, and Construct. Our team will work with you to determine the scope of the job, establish a comfortable budget, and move your ideas into our detailed design phase. We’ll then give you a fixed-price cost, create drawings to conceptualize the project, and help you make your selections to prepare for the building phase.
Finally, our team will work to make the construction process as simple for you as possible. We’ll take care of the complicated aspects, so you only need to concern yourself with getting ready to enjoy your new second story.
Choose LivCo as Your Second-Story Addition Contractor
LivCo was created in 2012 to streamline the remodeling and addition processes by fully integrating design and construction. Our team of in-house designers, architects, and builders is widely considered a leader in the design-and-build industry due to our unbeatable expertise and quality craftsmanship.
Choose LivCo as your trusted second-story additions contractor. Contact us today to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my home structurally support a second story?
Before planning a second-story addition, it’s crucial to determine if your home’s foundation and structure can support the added weight. Many homes aren’t initially built to accommodate a second story, so a structural assessment by a qualified engineer or architect is essential.
They’ll evaluate the foundation, load-bearing walls, and other critical elements to ensure safety and stability. If your home can’t support a second story as it is, modifications or reinforcements might be necessary, which can impact the project’s cost and timeline.
Will I need a roof replacement?
Adding a second story requires removing the existing roof. However, depending on the home and the new design, removing and reattaching the same roof might be possible, especially if it’s relatively new or made of high-end materials.
Is a partial second story a cost-effective choice?
Partial second stories can add an office, an extra bedroom, or a bathroom. However, the assumption that partial builds will be half the cost and hassle may not be accurate. The costs for architectural drawings, support, plumbing and electrical changes, and roofing are significant and don’t vary much between partial and full builds. Sometimes, adding a full second story can offer better value.