Planning a Second-storey Addition! How much does it cost?

While moving to a bigger home isn’t the card due to the increase in the real estate market, a Second-storey Addition may be the best choice for your home. 

Toronto’s real estate market makes adding a second-storey addition best than buying a new big home; several factors must be considered. There are various measures you can take to prepare for your major renovation.

First, think for what reasons you are planning second-storey addition. Are you contemplating it for aesthetic reasons? Do you need more space? Are you trying to increase your home value? 

As it is a complex process to add weight to your original home, you must consider and ensure that your home structure can handle an additional storey before getting ahead to your project.

Your needs and wants will determine what type of Second-storey addition you want and how much does it cost?

Estimating the cost is impossible, but obtaining an accurate cost estimate is essential to budget the project. Each project is different, and costs can vary. So you can’t take out the estimate.

The total estimated cost depends on several factors such as the project’s complexity, the material chosen, access to your project, etc. 

Adding the second storey is undoubtedly a significant investment for homeowners. However, it is also a big cost-saver in the long run.

In this blog, we can provide a rough estimate to give you an idea of the financial commitment involved.

NOTE: Keep in mind that this estimate is based on the industry standard and may not reflect your requirements.

Construction Work

The average construction cost for the second storey in Canada ranges from $1,850 to $14,000+ per sq foot. However, these figures can fluctuate depending on the factors mentioned earlier. 

For estimate costing, multiply the sq foot of the additional by the average cost per square foot.

Designing and architectural work

Hiring a designer or architecture is essential for well-structured second-storey buildings. The fees of Designing and architectural work are typically in the range of 10% to 20% of the total construction cost.

This may vary depending on the complexity and scope of the project.

Permits and inspections fees

This cost can vary depending on your city’s location and specific requirements. Appoint your local building department to obtain accurate information on the fees associated with your project.

Additional expensive

It is essential to account for the additional expenses that may arise during the project. This includes demolition costs, waste removal fees, unforeseen repairing or modification costs, interior design, temporary accommodation, etc.

Allotacting a contingency budget of around 10%-15% of the total cost is necessary.

Factors Affecting the Cost of Second Storey Addition

There are several factors that come into play when determining the cost of the addition. It is essential to have a clear understanding of all these factors before starting the project to estimate the expenses accurately.

1. Size and Complexity of the Addition

The size and complexity of the second-storey addition are significant determinants of the cost. A more extensive addition will require more materials and labour, which leads to more expenses. If you hire a designer, some custom features or any unique structural modification to the project, will impact more on your expenses.

2. Material Selection

The material selected for the construction plays a vital role in determining the cost, as high-quality materials often come with premium prices. Still, they even offer durability and aesthetical appeal. But you can select the material depending on your preferences and budget from the range of options available.

3. Structural considerations

It is essential to assess the existing structure of the home. Strengthening the foundation, ensuring structural integrity, and reinforcing walls are vital factors for the successful and safe second storey addition. And if you may need for the structural modifications can increase your overall expenses, especially if extensive work is required. 

4. Electrical and Plumbing 

Integrating plumbing and electrical system should be done with all required planning and professional expertise. Extending the new space can increase the overall cost. The plumbing and electrical are very complex and need many safety measures. The complexity of plumbing and electrical work, such as wiring, outlets, fixing, connection, etc. will increase the expenses involved.

5. Demolition(If Required)

Before constructing the top of the existing home there needs to be some demolition performed for safety reasons. And the most common question that comes to mind is can the roof frame be used as the second storey floor joints. The answer is no it is all takeout. 

6. Interior Finishes

The material would evaluate the cost of Interior work and how complex labour for installation is.  There are a variety of materials and options available for ceilings, finishing flooring, walls, doors, etc for second-storey addition. The cost varies depending on the range of items you select for the addition but the mid-range items in Toronto will cost almost around $100 per square foot.

What to Consider While Adding the Second Storey

They’re essential factors to consider in accounts, outside the cost when planning for the second-storey addition.

These include regulations, design, foundation, timelines, and alternative living arrangements.

• Building Regulations 

These are the foremost considerations before anything else! You should follow all the rules and regulations with your local zoning office regarding height restrictions. All after, there would be nothing worse than building a new stunning second storey that doesn’t meet the standards. 

• Designing

This is one of the essential parts of the construction process, during which you have to keep in mind some of the fundamentals, such as whether your exciting fitting need a change, what metric you want, and what type of second storey addition will fit your home’s look. The designer and architect would be highly beneficial during this process. 

• Foundation

Check if your foundation can handle the weight of addition that will come with another level. This is the safety requirement and if your foundation is not that strong enough then you should drop the idea of addition.

• Timeline

The timeline of building the second storey varies according to the requirements, it can take as little as 12 weeks. This is the best question you can ask your builder, but keep in mind that quality can’t be neglected for completing the project.

• Alternative Living arrangements

This is often overlooked by the house owners but during the installation, you may have vacant the premises or there may be certain blocked rooms or a lot of noise can impact your day-to-day life. So considering having an alternative living space or how you can deal with the interruptions.

Hire a professional Home Addition Contractor- Fiablecon

Adding a second storey isn’t a project done on your own since you will need to work hand-in-hand with a contractor and experienced designers, electricians, plumbers, structural workers and others to help in creating a successful and safe addition to your home. 

There are other expenses associated with the second-storey addition that isn’t hidden, but many homeowners usually ignore them when determining the expenses for their project.

For more information regarding Second-Storey addition, and other home renovations and remodelling service in Toronto, Contact Us to schedule a free appointment.