# Adding a third storey - insane, or feasible? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 19, 2010, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-a-third-storey-insane-or-feasible/536614 "2010-04-19T06:34:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-a-third-storey-insane-or-feasible/536614/1 "2010-04-19T06:34:02Z")
For reasons which I won’t bore you with (well, unless you want me to :)) I’m exploring the idea of adding some extra rooms to our house. This is an old brick terrace house (“row house” I think you call them?) which was originally single storey, but has had the attic converted to an upstairs bedroom. There’s no garden. The only way to go is…up! Ideally, what I want to end up with is two storey’s all the way along, and a single (large!) attic room on top of that, making 3 floors in total. I’ve never renovated before. Is this crazy talk? The foundations are good, but obviously weren’t intended to hold more than the original one floor of weight. Anyone ever done anything like this? ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-a-third-storey-insane-or-feasible/536614/2 "2010-04-19T23:42:14Z")
It’s probably _possible_ but I wouldn’t bet on it being much cheaper than a complete tear down and rebuild. An architect and probably an engineer would most likely need to be consulted. ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-a-third-storey-insane-or-feasible/536614/3 "2010-04-20T00:31:04Z")
Second story additions on detached homes are common in the bay area. I agree that you will need an onsite professional assessment whether the walls and foundation of your home are strong enough. Have you ever seen such an addition on a terraced house in your area? You need to find out whether building codes would even allow what you’re contemplating. I’d imagine you’ll need the cooperation, if not the approval, of your neighbors as well. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-a-third-storey-insane-or-feasible/536614/4 "2010-04-20T10:35:35Z")
Oh, I’d certainly never try to do something like this without talking to an architect. I’m just trying to get a feel for whether he’d laugh me out of the office :eek: The reason why I wonder about adding rooms as opposed to a full rebuild is that we don’t need to make any changes to the plumbing or kitchen fixtures - and as I understand it, that’s the expensive bit of a house. Also, my thrifty soul rebels at the thought of knocking down a perfectly good house just to make it bigger. Even if it would, in fact, be cheaper. (yeah, you’re right, I AM insane) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-a-third-storey-insane-or-feasible/536614/5 "2010-04-22T12:44:04Z")
I’d suggest a dormer. It doesn’t require nearly as much work. It only requires work on the back side of the house. This shed dormer adds 440 sq feet to your house. It’s a good example of what can be done. Your architect could design something similar to fit your house. > **[New Shed Dormer for 2 Bedrooms (BRB12) 5176 | The House Designers](https://www.thehousedesigners.com/plan/new-shed-dormer-for-2-bedrooms-brb12-5176/)** > > This approximately 440 square foot plan for a home addition provides two large bedrooms and a bath in a new dormered rear. This kind of shed room dormer is adaptable to one and one-and-a-half story homes, but it is most suited to homes that already... ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-a-third-storey-insane-or-feasible/536614/6 "2010-04-22T13:30:54Z")
This book excerpt is a good read on shed dormers. Designed correctly, they can be very attractive. This book has a picture of one. [http://books.google.com/books?id=Z8fjlus8e08C&pg=PA78&lpg=PA78&dq=building+shed+dormer&source=bl&ots=QQTe9EqKVM&sig=emvAvrYOJQUJFPYOPmw2A-pF1pU&hl=en&ei=9k7QS7LCGYP8NZ2E0RU&sa=X&oi=book\_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CA8Q6AEwAzgy#v=onepage&q=building%20shed%20dormer&f=false](http://books.google.com/books?id=Z8fjlus8e08C&pg=PA78&lpg=PA78&dq=building+shed+dormer&source=bl&ots=QQTe9EqKVM&sig=emvAvrYOJQUJFPYOPmw2A-pF1pU&hl=en&ei=9k7QS7LCGYP8NZ2E0RU&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CA8Q6AEwAzgy#v=onepage&q=building%20shed%20dormer&f=false) ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-a-third-storey-insane-or-feasible/536614/7 "2010-04-22T13:45:06Z")
Depending on where you live, there might be council restrictions on adding a new storey to your house **Aspidistra**. Especially if the street has heritage-protection status, you might not be allowed to change the facade of the property and sometimes that includes adding an upstairs (even if it is keeping with the ‘vibe’ of the original architecture). However, that being said, there are LOTS AND LOTS of houses in the inner burbs undergoing pretty radical transformations. And those terrace houses are prime for getting a makeover. Provided you don’t share walls with neighbours either side\*\*, I can’t see any reason why you wouldn’t get the necessary permit/s to do whatever the hell you like to improve your property. \*\*And even if you do share adjoining walls, the neighbours have to come up with a darned good reason to reject your application. Go for it, and good luck!! ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-a-third-storey-insane-or-feasible/536614/8 "2010-04-30T17:21:58Z")
Anything is possible, if you have the money. Step 1: Talk to the office that issues building permits and make sure they’ll let you. Step 2: Talk to an architect and get a general sense of the cost Step 3: … ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-a-third-storey-insane-or-feasible/536614/9 "2010-05-20T14:02:26Z")
> [@Winston\_Smith](#): > > Anything is possible, if you have the money. > > Step 1: Talk to the office that issues building permits and make sure they’ll let you. > Step 2: Talk to an architect and get a general sense of the cost > Step 3: … Obviously Step 3 is Hi Opal! ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-a-third-storey-insane-or-feasible/536614/10 "2010-05-27T15:40:10Z")
> [@Winston\_Smith](#): > > Anything is possible, if you have the money. Exactly! > [@Winston\_Smith](#): > > Step 2: Talk to an architect and get a general sense of the cost Actually, you would need a structural engineer as opposed to an architect but they may employ one. Basically, it depends on your foundation and the load support. Of course, this can be added or modified but the work involved and price may be inhibitive.