Home Improvement Contractor - Licensed Contractors - How would one add a second story to their home without a contractor? How long will it take? And the cost?

How would one add a second story to their home without a contractor? How long will it take? And the cost?

We would like to add a second story addition to our home. And the contractor's we have gotten estimates have been soo outrageous. We would like to do it ourselves. Any tips or advice? How long will it take to rip off old roof and add the new roof? How many people would it take to get it done in one weekend?

Public Comments

i will huff and puff and ............. forget it!
I think it'll take more than one weekend unless you live in a dog house. Just do lot of research and find out about any permits and inspections you need to get. Might be better to find good contractor for majority/structural stuff and may be you guys can finish things like dry wall, interior, easier jobs.
The walls in a 1 story house are not designed to hold the weight of 2 stories. By the time you add the weight of furniture, sheetrock, lumber and flooring, you could cause serious damage. To do a project like this, you really need to contact a design firm. This is not a weekend job.
it will take the Amish about 4 days with 4 guys price dunno for them but my apt was built on a house for 6000 it is a 14ft by 60ft my brother did it by himself 4 hours each day for about 2 months
It will take 46 men one weekend but you will have to expand your 1st floor to accomodate that many people for the weekend
it would nearly take a miracle to add a second floor in a weekend. you have to consider the magnitude of the project. it would take one to 2 days to pull a roof. depending on size. then the walls need framed in the rooms need divided water electric HVAC systems. insulation then drywall paint siding new roof are all good sized projects to take on. your estimates are seeming high but if you do research into it im sure they arent hosing you. look at that extreme makeover show. they take one week, but they also have a crew in the hundreds, working 24 hrs nonstop and they are predominantly highly skilled workers. one weekend is just madness to ask for as far as labor look into amish builders if they are in your area, or day laborers. remember your home needs to meet codes in the area also last thing you want to do is your own wiring and burn your own house down.
If you have to ask a question like this then you should not do it. Too many things can go wrong. You can spend more money correcting your mistakes. Not to mention the time you will waste on mistakes. Additions is a too big of a job for a DIY person especially if you have to ask how to add a second story. Not to mention the permits, architect. Be smart THINK TWICE...... And unless you have the Amish people helping you, one weekend is not going to get it...........
First you need a good designer. Sometimes the structure is tricky on these jobs, and by having the structural details worked out, you will avoid problems later. Then the key is getting a good framer and a good roofer. Getting this work done quickly will lessen the exposure of your home to the elements, and limit expensive water damage, etc. These jobs are not cheap, so if you have several estimates, don't ignore what that is telling you. This is not a job for an inexperienced or incompetent contractor.
From my experience, you are better off having professionals do the work, BUT, you can still save a lot of money if you sub-contract each piece of the work being done to add your second story. First, you need a good designer/architect, since it will be a second story addition, you will definetely need a structural engineer. These folks will approve your plans through your local Building Department (City Planning). As soon as your plans are approved, you will normally get a year to finish the build of your house. You can sub-contract the form/concrete co., framer (structure/roofing), the electrical work, plumbing work, and your finish work (i.e. drywall, stucco...). You will have control of each stage of the project and you will have control on how much you spend for each sub.
Don't even attempt it without at least involving an architect or structural engineer. You could cave in the entire house. Cost will depend on how big the space is and how you want it finished. Trying to do project of that size in a weekend is a pipe dream.