Adding a second story?

[Jks]

We have a small kit log cabin and are thinking of adding a second story. We think it will be conventional, stick built construction. My concern is the ability of the existing log structure to support the weight, (walls bowing, or???). Any thoughts?

[loghousenut]

That would all be my concern also and a question for an engineer who is onsite and looking at your structure. There are more ways to build a kit home than there are types of rock that could be used in the concrete of the foundation.

My first question would be, is the house worth enough to be worth tearing of an existing roof structure, adding a second floor, and then installing a roof structure. You would be essentially building a second house on top of the first house and I can't imagine this site being much help on that project.

Off hand, I'm inclined to think that it might be easier, and cheaper, to build that second house on a fresh foundation with the money from the sale of the first house. The resulting 2 story house would not be a combination of building styles.

You might even consider building the new 2 story home from logs. We'd be a lot of help on that project. Two story log homes are what we do for kicks and giggles on this forum.

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[hammerhead 67]

Depending on the construction method it MIGHT be possible to lift the roof off with a crane, frame the 2nd floor and then drop the roof back on. Have to have an engineer eyeball it.