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Second Floor Additions In Ottawa
A second floor addition is one of the smartest ways to add room, value, and function to your Ottawa home.
Building up is complex structural work, but OGC has the engineering and experience to design a second storey that fits how you live and matches your existing home. Call today to book a design consultation.
How Our Second Floor Additions in Ottawa Work
A second floor addition, also called a second storey addition, is a structural project, not a cosmetic renovation. Here's how OGC takes your Ottawa home from feasibility to a finished, fully engineered new second floor.
Before anything else, we confirm your home can carry a second floor. A structural engineer reviews your foundation, walls, and footings so you know what's possible before you spend a dollar on design.
- On-site review of your foundation, framing, and load paths
- Engineer assessment of whether to build up or lift and rebuild
- Honest go / no-go answer before you commit to a design
We design your new floor around how you actually want to live, then our engineers produce the stamped structural drawings the City of Ottawa requires.
- New layout for bedrooms, bathrooms, and stairs
- 3D renderings so you see the finished home before we build
- Stamped structural and architectural drawings for permit
A second floor adds height and floor area, which means zoning matters. We handle building permits, height and setback checks, and any minor variance your project needs.
- Building permit submitted and tracked by OGC
- Height, setback, and lot-coverage compliance confirmed
- Committee of Adjustment / minor variance handled if required
We reinforce the foundation and main-floor structure as engineered, remove the existing roof, and weatherproof the home so the interior is protected while we build the new floor.
- Foundation and load-bearing reinforcement as specified
- Controlled roof removal with full weather protection
- Your home is sealed and secured at every stage
Your new floor goes up: framing, a new roof, windows, and exterior cladding matched to your existing home so the addition looks original, not bolted on.
- New second-floor framing and roof system
- Windows, insulation, and exterior matched to your home
- Building envelope sealed and inspected before interior work
We finish the new floor end to end: plumbing, wiring, drywall, flooring, and finishes, then walk the completed home with you before the City's final inspection.
- Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC extended to the new floor
- Drywall, flooring, trim, and paint completed
- Final City inspection booked and your 7-year warranty handed over
Adding a Second Floor to Your Ottawa Home
Ottawa is full of solid postwar bungalows on great lots in established neighbourhoods. A second floor addition, a true second storey built over your existing home, lets you double your living space and stay in the area you love, without the price of buying up or the hassle of moving.
It's also one of the most demanding additions to build. A bungalow's foundation and walls weren't always designed to carry a full upper floor, so the structural work has to be right. It's exactly the kind of project our engineering-led process is built for.
- Double your square footage while keeping your lot and location
- Add primary suites, kids' bedrooms, and a second bathroom up top
- Engineer-verified before design so you know it's possible up front
- Exterior matched so your home looks built that way from day one
Our Second Floor Addition Portfolio
A sample of second floor additions, second storey conversions, and full home additions we've completed across Ottawa and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Why Ottawa Homeowners Choose OGC
For over a decade, OGC has been Ottawa's most reviewed design-build firm, with 200+ verified reviews across Google, Houzz, and HomeStars.
Engineering-Led, Not Guesswork
Every second floor addition starts with a structural engineer confirming your home can carry it. You get a straight answer on feasibility before you invest in design.
One Team, Start to Finish
One dedicated project manager runs your entire build, from engineering to final paint. No handoffs, no gaps, reachable by phone or text the whole way through.
See It Before We Build It
Every addition starts with full 3D renderings so you can see your new floor and exterior before a single wall goes up. Change it on screen, not on site.
Fixed Pricing, No Surprises
What you're quoted is what you pay. No hidden fees, no mid-project change orders. OGC's price-match guarantee backs every contract.
Industry-Leading 7-Year Warranty
OGC backs every addition with a 7-year warranty, one of the strongest in Ottawa. A second floor addition is a major investment. Your peace of mind should match it.
Ottawa's Most Recognized Renovation Team
OGC is a member of the GOHBA, Tarion, RenoMark, CHBA, and the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, and has been named Ottawa's Small Business of the Year. Our work has been featured on CTV, HGTV, and in Ottawa press.
Second Floor Addition Challenges We Solve
Building up is the most complex addition there is. These are the obstacles we manage on every Ottawa second floor addition.
The biggest unknown with any second floor addition is whether the foundation and walls can take the load. We answer that with a structural engineer before design, then reinforce exactly where the drawings call for it.
Adding height and floor area can run into Ottawa's zoning limits. We confirm height, setback, and lot-coverage rules early and handle any minor variance through the Committee of Adjustment so your project doesn't stall.
Removing a roof in an Ottawa climate is a real risk if it's not managed. We sequence tear-off and weatherproofing tightly and keep the home sealed and secure through every stage of the build.
A second floor addition shouldn't look like an afterthought. We match rooflines, windows, and exterior finishes to your existing home so the finished result looks like it was always meant to be two storeys.
What a Second Floor Addition Costs in Ottawa
Pricing depends on the size of the new floor, how much structural reinforcement your home needs, and your finishes. Here's the range Ottawa homeowners are working within.
or addition over a garage
multiple bedrooms & a bath
with major structural work
Structure & Foundation
The reinforcement your home needs is the single biggest cost driver. Homes that were built to carry an upper floor cost far less than a bungalow that needs new footings or beams to support the load.
Size of the New Floor
Second floor additions in Ottawa generally run $300–$500+ per square foot all-in. The bigger the footprint you build over, the more the total climbs, but the lower your cost per square foot tends to be.
Finishes & Scope
New bathrooms, a primary suite, custom millwork, and higher-end finishes move you up the range. Where you put your budget on the new floor is one of the biggest levers you control.
Want the full breakdown? Read our detailed guide to second floor addition costs in Ottawa.
Second Floor Addition Questions
The questions Ottawa homeowners ask us most before building up.
In most cases, yes. Many Ottawa bungalows are excellent candidates for a second floor addition, and adding a second storey is one of the most popular ways to gain space here. Whether it's possible depends on the foundation, walls, and footings. We start every bungalow project with a structural engineer who confirms whether you can build up on the existing structure or whether a lift-and-rebuild approach makes more sense, before you spend anything on design.
Most second floor additions in Ottawa fall between $150,000 for a partial addition and $500,000+ for a full bungalow-to-two-storey conversion, or roughly $300–$500 per square foot. The biggest variable is how much structural reinforcement your home needs. See our full second floor addition cost guide for a detailed breakdown.
Yes. A second floor addition always requires a City of Ottawa building permit, stamped structural drawings, and zoning compliance for height and setbacks. Some projects also need a minor variance. OGC handles the entire permit and approvals process for you. Here's more on permits for second floor additions in Ottawa.
Most second floor additions take about 4 to 8 months of construction, plus design and permitting beforehand. Larger conversions and projects that need a minor variance take longer. We give you a realistic schedule before work starts. See our guide on how long a second floor addition takes in Ottawa.
Sometimes, but not always. Because a second floor addition involves removing the roof, many homeowners choose to move out during the structural and weatherproofing phases. We'll tell you honestly what to expect for your specific project and help you plan around it.
A second floor addition often adds significant value, especially on a well-located lot in an established Ottawa neighbourhood, because you're adding bedrooms and bathrooms that buyers pay a premium for. It also lets you stay in the area you love instead of buying up. We're glad to talk through the numbers for your home and street.
Areas We Serve
OGC builds second floor additions and home additions across Ottawa and the surrounding region, including:
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Quick Response
You'll receive a response from a specialist within 24 hours.
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Unbiased Advice
Expert face-to-face advice for your renovation project.
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No Commitments
There's absolutely no pressure or commitment to buy.
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Fixed Pricing
No surprises, and no hidden fees.
no-obligation quote
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Visit us
1886 Merivale Road #200, Nepean, ON K2G 1E6Sit with a specialist and visit our design center.
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