If you’re considering an addition to your house, yet unsure if to build up or not this is for you. As with any kind of house construction, a second story addition can be complicated. Usually more so than building on ground-level. Even still, building up instead of around has its’ own advantages.
Why you should
The first thing that many homeowners consider when planning to go for a second story is the space it saves. This is especially useful for those who use the space on their property more. (farmers, those with pets, athletic children, pools, the list goes on). Of course this is a fact that does have its’ own attraction. After all, saving space to fit more of what you like in is always a good idea.
Space is good to have, but it’s not the only thing a second story addition has to offer. If you love seeing what’s around you, if you live in the countryside then you’ll know how satisfying a good view can be. If your addition gets you the height you need to see all the wonderful sights you couldn’t see before, it may make it worthwhile.
If you’re playing with the idea of making that vertical addition but you’re on the fence, here’s something that you may not have thought of that might convince you to go for it. To put it simply, you can section off your living spaces from your bedrooms. Often, people will have their bedrooms up on the second story. This leaves space downstairs for those who like to entertain, yet keep bedrooms clear of unwanted guests.
There are many other things that improve through building up instead of around. Some of these things you may think of yourself or from another who has already done so. Many things are useful depending on just how creative you are, after all. But even with these advantages, there are the downsides to consider. Where something can be useful for one person, it may be a hindrance for another.
Why you shouldn’t
Many of the issues here revolve around where you are and what you already have. For one, you need to consider what your local council does and does not allow when it comes to construction. Many may have height restrictions that will not allow you to build up beyond a certain point. This can of course be a problem for those looking to build upwards.
No matter what you’re doing, when it includes fighting gravity it’s gonna get hard. More importantly because of this, things will get more expensive too. There are quite a few costs that can appear because you’re building up as opposed to horizontally. These costs can include strengthening existing walls to support the addition, more expensive materials to build your upper level, specialists to make sure your build won’t fall through (in more ways than one).
Prepare!
When it comes to any kind of specialty building, surprise costs can pop up at any time. Always make sure you have wiggle room in your budget. Being prepared and skimping on some things is a lot better than having to take out loans which will end up costing you much more in the long run. You should also make sure that everything is approved and that everything is in order. Make sure you’ve thought of everything. It’s a good idea to go over your plans more than once to make sure that you will only be paying for what you want to.
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