Second-Storey Additions

A second-storey addition is the most effective way to double your living space on a small Ottawa lot, particularly in established neighbourhoods like the Glebe, Westboro, Old Ottawa South and Centretown where lot sizes limit horizontal expansion. The process begins with a structural engineering assessment to determine whether your existing foundation and walls can support the additional load, which often requires foundation underpinning or reinforcement.

Construction involves temporarily removing your existing roof, building new load-bearing walls, installing floor joists engineered for the span, and constructing a new roof system. Ottawa's extreme climate demands careful attention to thermal bridging, vapour barriers and insulation values that exceed minimum Ontario Building Code requirements to handle temperatures ranging from minus 30 degrees Celsius to plus 35 degrees Celsius.

Heritage districts may require that the addition maintain the character and massing of surrounding homes. These are complex projects typically requiring 16 to 28 weeks and coordination between structural engineers, framers, roofers, mechanical trades and finishing crews.