For people upgrading their residences, ample space and height are vital elements in fulfilling their new home needs. Since building a house from scratch can be a hefty investment, some resort to buying old or pre-owned homes they’ll refurbish and redecorate to fit their idea of the perfect family home.

Homeowners may even add a second or third floor to their house. While reconstruction projects make it possible to expand a home, homeowners may have to consider a few things that encompass costs and the safety of their chosen renovation project.

If you’re planning to add a second or third floor to your home, here are four things you must consider before hauling in the concrete, hollow blocks, and construction crew to your place:

Stair Placement

You might think that adding another story to your home is easy as stacking Legos on top of each other. However, in real life, you’ll need to consult experts on where to place your stairs. Your home’s future stair placement depends on where it will start on the first floor and end on the second floor.

An ideal stair placement is by the wall. Placing your stairs to the side of your house saves space, especially if you don’t have ample space for a hallway. To save more space, choose shapes such as L-shaped, similar to what houses in Hamilton Executive Residences have, or U-shaped stairs. These stair types don’t occupy too much floor area without compromising the standard measurements of the steps and rises.

Superstitious homeowners may also consult engineers and architects to incorporate Feng Shui principles with practicality and safety. Inviting positive energy is also one way to create a clean slate for pre-owned homes and foreclosed properties to undergo remodeling projects.

Structural Foundations

Besides stair placement, you must check for your home’s structural foundation. Check for any repairs necessary before adding your second or third floors. In addition, have engineers calculate whether the existing walls are sturdy enough to support your stairs and upper floors. Otherwise, you’ll need to reinforce your walls and overall structures before building additional stories.

You might also add pillars or posts if your house’s walls need additional support to hold your upper floors better. The last thing you’d want is your second and third stories crumbling and causing more property damage.

Seismic Hazards

Part of checking your home’s structural integrity is to know about your location’s seismic hazards. It is crucial to learn whether or not your chosen neighborhood is prone to earthquakes and other potential calamities. That said, your construction crew will adjust their building methods to build a multiple-story home that withstands disasters and time.

Checking your future neighborhood’s seismic hazards also helps you assess your construction plans. Let’s say you bought a bungalow in Cavite. Researching your town’s earthquake hazards will help you plan your budget for construction and other expenses. You’ll also learn any zoning laws needed for your renovation project to push through.

Construction Time

Schedule the construction of your additional floors according to the weather forecast. If your location is prone to constant rains, you may have to move your building project to when it is sunnier and drier.

While summer seasons in the Philippines may be hot and humid, it is still a better time to finish construction projects. With stable weather, construction will be completed in at least six months. You’ll also worry less about excess water or wind from ruining your construction materials and building progress.

Adding upper floors to your home is one way to expand space without compromising your outdoor space. Before you plan how many stories you’ll add, it is vital to plan your stair placement, check your home’s structural foundations, learn your neighborhood’s seismic hazards, and carefully schedule when construction begins. Consider these four things to build sturdy stories for your home sweet home.

SOURCES:

https://www.alure.com/home-improvements-blog/alterations/4-factors-to-consider-before-adding-a-second-floor-to-your-home

https://ecomindedsolutions.com/blog/adding-a-second-story/

https://www.ownerly.com/home-improvement/adding-second-story-to-house/