Ideas for a Second Floor Home Addition by Dennis Hartman, Demand Media

A second story can house several bedrooms.

A home addition is one way of adding value to a home by increasing living space and adding new appliances and fixtures. Homeowners can finance home additions with a home equity loan or through savings, turning a profit when it comes time to sell. A second story is one of the more complex addition projects, but it can have a major effect on the value of the home.

Bedrooms

Homeowners with a growing family may have the most to gain by using a second story addition to add bedrooms to the home. A second story can usually contain several bedrooms and at least one full bathroom. This will also free up bedrooms on the first floor. An unused bedroom on the first floor can easily become a guest room, media room or family room. Second floor bedrooms are more private and offer more unobstructed views of the yard and neighborhood, as well as increased air flow for ventilation. To keep residents safe in the event of a fire, second story bedrooms should include escape windows and emergency ladders.

Storage

A second floor addition opens up new space for storage, which can be important for any homeowners, especially those who have been in a home long enough to fill it with possessions. Even if the second story is primarily reserved for bedrooms, linen closets, crawl spaces or a new attic can all increase the amount of available storage space. Likewise, a new attic can hold items that were previously stored in a room on the first floor or in the basement, freeing up those spaces for new uses.

Apartment

Adding a second story can be a way for a homeowner to get into the rental property business, or accommodate an older child who needs more space and independence. A second story apartment includes not only one or more bedrooms but also a bathroom, ample storage space and even a small kitchen. Second story apartments may also have an exterior entrance, such as a stairway on the outside of the house or a new interior stairway with its own entrance door at street level. Taking on a tenant in a second story apartment can help defer the cost of the addition and also boost the value of the home significantly.

Home Office

Second story additions can also provide space for a home office. Keeping an office separate from the rest of the house is important, especially for those who work at home while children or other family members are present and potentially distracting. An exterior entrance is a good idea for a second story office if the homeowner plans to host clients without leading them through the private residential section of the home. Relegating the office to the second story also makes it easier to determine what portion of the home qualifies as the office for tax purposes.