You must apply for a building permit for minor works, if you wish to make an extension to your home. Suncoast has experts in building permits and can help you with your application quickly and with the right conditions.
There are things to consider for a house under construction. No matter if you want expand your house, or to build a house from scratch. There are rules in the housing construction regulations that correspond to the municipality or locality where the work will be done, and these must be respected.
If you do not have the building permits, you might get one or more fines and even suspension of the house under construction, so it is important to observe them and get advice or hire the services from professionals in the field.
Building a second floor
One of the most popular extensions is to build another floor for your house; this allows you more space and organization that are never superfluous. It is important that you know some of the things you should keep in mind before starting the construction of another floor in your house.
Define spaces and usage
Remember that to start expanding it is important to be clear about the spaces you want to know what you need, make a budget, and a good distribution of the new spaces.
A second floor can be used for new bedrooms, so that the spaces on the first floor become common places for the whole family and much less congested.
If you plan to build another bathroom, it is best to do it just above the bathroom you already have on the ground floor so that the pipes are connected more easily, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money on making new connections and extensions.
Think that when you build another floor, in addition to the internal distribution of the house, you are going to change its exterior look, so you can create new facades and shapes to highlight the new.
Floor plans
The best way to have your ideas clear is to put them in plans. With them you will be able to visualize what you need and what you want to do. Think that an extension of this type allows you to create several types of spaces that can have different uses. For example, a room on the new floor that you build can be used for a covered parking space on the first floor.
Having plans will allow you to check all the details and have a better control of your needs. Whether it is materials, labor, time, you will be able to create your budget and be in control of your project.
Structure
Always make sure that the structure of the first floor is strong enough to support the construction of a second level, otherwise you will put the structural safety of your construction at risk. For example, you cannot put a wall on the second level that is not supported by another wall on the first floor.
Building permits
Whenever you are going to start a new stage of construction you must make sure you have the proper building permits. In other articles we have already talked about the processes and requirements to obtain them. Check them again to make sure you have everything in order.
In some areas there are restrictions on the height of houses, so it is important that you check the regulations in your area and consult with the corresponding authorities to make sure there are no problems with your project.
How to add a second floor to an already built house
If you solve the above, it will be much easier to start building. Remember that you will need qualified personnel to finish sooner, and you can do the work little by little. Start with the most urgent and necessary spaces.
These are some aspects that we recommend you to take into account when starting the construction of your second floor, so that you can get the most out of your ideas and resources. Remember that before starting any work it is important to make sure that you have the corresponding building permits.
