Benefits. There are many reasons to consider adding a second floor to your home. Beyond the benefit of having extra space, expanding your home vertically is a better use of space than expanding outward into your lot – especially if your lot is small.

Is it cheaper to add a second story or build out?

When building new construction, building up with a two-story home is cheaper than building out. When remodeling, building out with a one-story addition is cheaper than adding a second story to an existing dwelling.

Can my foundation support a second story?

The truth is, most foundations for single story homes aren't sufficiently reinforced to support the weight of a second story, but there are ways to fix that. That's where the services of an engineer are required.