Second Story Additions in Seattle
Adding a second story is one of the most efficient ways to gain real living space in a Seattle home without leaving the neighborhood you love. We design, permit, engineer, and build full second story additions across the city, with seismic retrofitting and structural reinforcement built into every project.
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Quality. Precision. No surprises. Get a free estimate and start your home remodel and renovation with confidence today!
Get started
Quality. Precision. No surprises. Get a free estimate and start your home remodel and renovation with confidence today!
What Is a Second Story Addition?
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When a Second Story Addition Makes Sense in Seattle
Seattle has small urban lots, mature tree canopy, and neighborhoods worth staying in. Those three things together rule out a lot of other options. Lateral additions are limited by setbacks and lot coverage. Mature trees block ADU placement on plenty of backyards. Moving means leaving the schools, the commute, and the neighbors you actually like.Cooking, entertaining, and daily life should feel effortless in your kitchen. That’s why Brutsky Builds designs kitchens that fit your lifestyle, not just your space.
A second story addition solves the space problem without forcing the move. It's especially common for:
- Growing families who need a third or fourth bedroom and a second bathroom
- Homeowners who want a primary suite separated from the rest of the home
- Couples adding a dedicated work-from-home setup with real privacy
- Families planning for aging parents or adult kids returning home
The resale math also lines up well in Seattle. Three and four bedroom homes in neighborhoods like Ballard, Wallingford, Phinney Ridge, Greenwood, and Beacon Hill carry a meaningful premium over two-bedroom homes on the same blocks. A well-executed second story addition tends to recapture a significant portion of its cost at sale, more reliably than most other major remodels.
A second story addition is a full vertical expansion of your home, adding a brand-new floor on top of the existing structure. Your roof comes off, new framing goes up, and you gain a complete second level with bedrooms, bathrooms, or whatever the layout calls for.
It's different from a few related projects homeowners often confuse it with. A pop-top is a partial second story, usually adding one or two rooms above part of the existing footprint rather than a full floor. A dormer expansion adds usable space to an existing attic but doesn't add a full level. A tear-down rebuild starts from scratch with a new foundation, which makes sense for some homes but is significantly more expensive and disruptive than building up.
A true second story addition keeps your existing foundation and main floor while doubling your usable square footage. For most Seattle lots, it's the smartest way to add real living space.
Flexible Payment Plans in Bellevue
We make home renovations affordable with financing options that fit your budget, from small projects under $100k to major renovations over $100k. Start your project now!
Inspiring Kitchen Remodels Built with Quality & Style
Explore Our Bellevue Kitchen Remodeling Projects
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Real Feedback, Real Transformations
Our Clients Love Their Home Remodels
Nothing speaks louder than real results. Our clients love the transformations we help bring to life, and their feedback reflects the quality, care, and craftsmanship behind every project. From home remodels to custom builds, see why homeowners trust Brutsky Builds to turn their vision into reality.
Irina S, on Yelp
Love working with Brutsky Builds kitchen and bathroom remodeling! They take immediate massive action and get things done. They did a lot of pre construction planning so that there was always work going on our project. They completed everything on time and excellent quality.
Kyla Regan, GOOGLE REVIEWS
We hired Brutsky Builds to help us build the Primary bathroom of our dreams. We required extensive repairs due to water damage in the space, and Erik's Team tackled it all. They guys replumbed the space, installed a new dedicated hot water heater, installed drywall, a new shower, new tub, new vanity, etc. Our Primary bathroom looks fantastic! Erik's team is professional, knowledgeable, talented, and courteous. They came in when we needed Professional help and worked their magic. We are incredibly pleased and very grateful.
Sunyoung H, GOOGLE
We recently finished an amazing master bathroom remodel with Brutsky Builds. Erik, Filip, and his crew are dedicated, professional, and dependable. During the initial planning meeting, they provided a useful tool to help us plan out the remodel and keep the project on track. Filip was a great project manager who provided daily updates with pictures and was super responsive to all my concerns and questions. The paid attention to every detail, ensuring everything was perfect. The entire process was smooth, and the final result is a beautiful and functional space we absolutely love. Don't let their seeming 'youth' fool you- These guys know what they're doing! We highly recommend Brutsky Builds for any home renovation projects.
Vadim P, on Yelp
Since we had little experience in construction, we were very hesitant to take on a big full home remodeling project. Especially after hearing so many horror stories from other's. So we were carefully interviewing and choosing a contractor. We chose Erik's team at Brutsky Builds because of their honesty and ease of communication and flexibility we saw. These guys/gals are truly dedicated to excellence and clearly passionate for their work (every member on the team). We had an incredible experience remodeling our home with Brutsky Builds.
Kelly A, Facebook
4. Brutsky Builds recently completed our kitchen remodel and they exceeded our expectations. This is our third remodel on our 1955 mid-century home - first with Brutsky Builds - and this was our easiest and smoothest remodel.
The team did a complete demo of our kitchen, taking it down to the studs. From there, they patched our original wood flooring, tore down a wall and an archway, did new insulation, dry walled, relocated most appliances, shifted our heating vent, hung (heavy) floating shelves, and then did the electrical, plumbing, cabinets, countertops, and tile.
All of this was completed in just 30 days. It was wild. And it’s GORGEOUS!! Everything turned out beautiful and we couldn’t be happier.
Matt B, GOOGLE
We had a challenging little project that Brutsky Builds made simple! We had a floating shelf made for between two cabinets in our bathroom, but our previous contractor made errors in the measurements, and it was the wrong size. After we moved on from him, Brutsky was willing to measure and recut the marble and then install it, for a reasonable price. Very pleased.
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FAQs About Second Story Addition in SEATTLE
Please feel free to call. But here are some frequently asked questions we get.
A second story addition is a full vertical expansion of an existing home, adding a complete new floor on top of the current structure. The existing roof comes off, the structure is reinforced, and a new second level is framed, finished, and tied into the home's mechanical systems.
The cost varies based on materials, design, and labor. On average, kitchen and bathroom remodels in Bellevue start around $35,000 to $100,000+, depending on the scope of work. We provide clear estimates with no hidden costs.
Yes, during the roof-off phase. Once the existing roof is removed to build up, your home is not sealed against weather, dust, or noise. We phase the build to compress that window as much as possible and walk through options with you during pre-construction.
Most can, but it depends on the foundation type, the existing framing, and the soil conditions on your lot. Older homes on partial foundations or post-and-pier systems may need reinforcement first. We evaluate all three with our structural engineer before design starts.
It's part of every second story addition we do. Adding mass to a home in a seismic zone requires upgrading the lateral system to handle the new loads. Our structural engineer specifies the retrofit scope as part of the engineered drawings submitted for permit.We help you select high-quality materials that fit your style, budget, and durability needs. From countertops to cabinets, we guide you through every choice to create a beautiful, functional space that lasts.
Start Your Seattle Second Story Addition
Upgrade your space with trusted Bellevue kitchen remodeling experts. Stunning designs, stress-free process—let’s build!
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