When it comes to adding extra space onto their home, many homeowners are concerned mainly with two things: time and money. And rightfully so, as both are extremely valuable. This struggle of being able to get exactly what you want for less, without disrupting the flow of your home for months on end has led many to wonder if the wiser option is to add on to the ground level of their home or build onto the second level. It is an issue that many customers are concerned about, explains Ferdinand Steyer, owner of Mountain Works LLC, a residential contracting company in Connecticut.
The degree of cost and difficulty depends on the project at hand, Steyer says, so there is no clear answer as to which you should choose for your home, but here is a general idea of what you could expect from either instance.
Ground Level: Some contractors will tell you that building on the first floor will be more costly because of the work that is involved, and sometimes it is. Whenever you start a new project from ground level, the first thing that needs to be laid is the new foundation. And, if you have ever seen a house being built, you know it requires a lot of digging and large amounts of cement in order to create the slab on which the rest of your addition can be built. So essentially, a lot of work has to be done before you even begin to see the frame of your new room being put up, which can sometimes be disheartening.
Second Story: Building on the second floor of your home doesn’t really require any less work. While, yes you already have the foundation laid because of the first level of the home, if you think that you can just start building on top of the roof, you are in for a big surprise. Adding laterally to a home requires a lot of reinforcements, says Steyer, to ensure that the house can safely withstand the added weight. And, he continues, the process of adding steel eye beams to the existing structure, as well as building the new room, is an involved process.
What it really comes down to is what the intended use of the space is, explains Steyer. If you are hoping to turn the room into a common area where people can easily flow in and out, then you will probably want something on the ground level of the home. On the other hand, if you have limited space on your property, or you want to turn the room into an additional bedroom, then adding to the second story of your home will probably be the best choice for you. Your concerns about which option is best for your home should definitely be addressed with your contractor prior to starting construction.
