Second Story Additions

Second Story Expansion

When you love your Chicago neighborhood but need more space, building up makes sense. Second story additions double your square footage without sacrificing yard space or expanding into setbacks. This vertical approach is especially valuable in established neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Lakeview, and Ravenswood where lot coverage is already maximized. You gain new bedrooms, bathrooms, and living areas while preserving outdoor space below.

Adding a second story is one of the most structurally demanding residential projects. Your existing foundation and first-floor walls must carry the new load—which means rigorous engineering before construction begins. We analyze soil conditions, foundation capacity, and existing framing to determine what reinforcement is needed. Sometimes we can build on existing structure; other times we install new steel columns and beams. Either way, the engineering is done right so your addition stands solid for generations.

Living through a second story addition requires careful staging and weather protection—we're literally removing your roof. We sequence the work to minimize exposure, installing temporary weatherproofing when needed and completing the shell quickly. Once dried in, interior work proceeds floor by floor. The finished home feels cohesive: matched siding, aligned windows, and proper proportions that look like the house was always meant to be this size.