There are numerous benefits of adding a second storey addition to your home; from getting more living space without moving house, getting amazing views, keeping the backyard space, to raising the market value of your home. And, since choosing to build upward is a huge decision, Urban Scene Construction has come up with the following list of things to consider before adding a second storey extension to your house.
Thermal Performance
When planning a second storey addition, you must consider thermal performance which is the efficiency with which something retains, or prevents the passage of heat. Hence, to make sure your second storey extension meets the minimum sustainability benchmarks you should have a professional assessment performed.
Insulation
Depending on the climate, every new building is required to be insulated appropriately. But, don’t worry, because insulating your second storey addition may be as simple as retrofitting the existing insulation of your original home in order to avoid leaks and other similar issues.
Cooling and Heating
The truth is, once you have your second storey addition completed, it is very likely that the HVAC system that’s already installed in your home won’t be enough for the new square footage. Put simply, the more living space, the higher cooling and heating requirements. Thus, take this into account when planning your 2 storey house design and before setting the budget.
Cladding
If you are adding a second storey to your house, you’d probably like your addition to blend in with the rest of the house to produce a unified look. So, cladding is yet another important thing to consider beforehand. Are you going to change the entire façade or simply choose the cladding option, like weatherboard, render, or brickwork, that’s closest to your existing one? It’s up to you, just try to make it look like the addition was always a part of your existing home.
Termite Proofing
Finally, but just as important as the others, protecting your second storey addition from termites should be one of your priorities. So, once you start creating your 2 storey house designs and budget plans, make sure you use termite-resistant materials, include termite barriers, treat timber products, and make your 2 storey house design plans inspection-friendly.
Taken these points into consideration, it’s time you contact our team at Urban Scene to ensure your second storey extension project is seamless. We pride ourselves on delivering expert advice and quality workmanship. Contact us today!
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