Building a second story can be a bit of a time-consuming process at anywhere from three to five months to complete. Times can also vary depending on things like the age of your home and the type of property. A few reasons a second story addition can take so long include:
* Adding a second story to house can involve extensive planning
* Structural issues must be addressed
* It takes time to reinforce the first-floor ceiling
* Energy efficiency standards must be assessed to meet Title 24 Compliance
* Flooring, fixtures, windows, and door frames may have to be relocated on the first floor

Second story addition costs can vary depending on quite a few factors. You may pay as little as $300 per square foot or upwards of $700 per square foot or more, depending on the circumstances of the build. For example, adding a second story on a hillside home can obviously be more challenging and time-consuming, so the costs will be higher.

Even though the build-up with a new addition can be costly, you can fully expect the renovation to heighten your home’s overall value. To determine just how much, look at what homes in your area sell for with square footage that your home will boast once the second story addition is complete.

For example, if the new story will add another 1,200 square feet to your 1,200 square foot home, look at 2,400 square foot homes in your area and their prices. You could easily see an $800,000 house almost double in market value with a second story in some locations.

When you add a full-size master suite to your Los Angeles home, you can expect a return on investment of about 65%. The quality of materials and workmanship greatly influences how much you can expect to get out of the initial investment.

The perfect size for a luxury master bedroom suite is between 300 and 600 square feet. If you want to go smaller than that, consider adding tons of high-quality materials, like exotic hardwoods, to increase the exquisite feel of that space.