Additions and Second Stories
Home additions and second stories in Chicago
Rimberio Construction has built additions and second stories across Chicago since 1999. Room additions, rear additions, and full second floors on bungalows, ranches, and two-flats. We manage zoning, permits, structure, and masonry, and self-perform the carpentry, concrete, and excavation.
The Work
Some of the most technical work in residential construction
Process
Zoning, permits, and structure, in that order
Every addition starts with the zoning record, not a sketch. Floor-area ratio, rear setback, and lot coverage decide what your lot allows, and they differ block by block across Chicago. We pull the record and give you a feasibility read before any design work begins — a one-week answer, not a one-month one.
Second stories ride on the structure below them. Our engineers verify the existing foundation and framing before we draw anything, and where reinforcement is needed, our own concrete crews handle the underpinning instead of a subcontractor. Tying new brick to old is its own trade: our masons match Chicago common brick, mortar color, and coursing so the addition reads as original.
Most families stay in the house while we build. We sequence the tie-in — the days the roof is open — around weather windows, and keep the occupied floors sealed off. If the addition is part of a bigger plan, we price it against a whole-home renovation and, on the right lot, against a new build, so you decide with real numbers side by side.
Budget
What additions cost in Chicago
Rear and side additions in Chicago generally run $250 to $450 per square foot, depending on foundation conditions and finish level. Second stories run $300 to $500 per square foot, carrying the structural verification, stairs, and a new roof. A 400 square foot rear addition typically lands between $110,000 and $180,000 all-in, including design and permits.
Questions
Addition questions we hear most
How much does a home addition cost in Chicago?
Rear and side additions generally run $250 to $450 per square foot in Chicago; second-story additions run $300 to $500. A typical 400 square foot rear addition lands between $110,000 and $180,000 including design, engineering, and permits.
Do I need a zoning variance for an addition in Chicago?
Usually not. Most additions fit within existing floor-area ratio, setback, and lot-coverage limits. When a design does need relief, we tell you before drawings begin and handle the variance application — but the honest first step is checking the record, which we do in week one.
Can we live in the house during an addition?
Most of our clients do. We keep the occupied part of the house sealed and functional, schedule utility switchovers in daytime windows, and plan the roof tie-in for a stretch of clear weather. A second story is the hardest case; we stage temporary weather protection for it.
How long does a second-story addition take?
Four to six months of construction for most Chicago second stories, after two to three months of engineering, design, and permit review. Rear additions run shorter, typically three to five months on site depending on foundation work and finish scope.
Is an addition worth it compared with moving?
When you like your block, your commute, and your neighbors, an addition is usually the cheaper way to get space — moving costs in commissions, taxes, and higher rates are real money. When the lot itself is the limit, we say so and price the alternatives.
Start with a feasibility review
Send us your address and what you want to add. We will pull the zoning record and tell you what your lot allows before any design work starts. Call (312) 555-0175 or write to info@rimberioconstruction.com. Our office is at 4218 W Belmont Ave, Chicago.