Structural engineering
Foundation and framing assessment included.
Second-Story Addition
A second story built to live like it was always there.
Bedrooms, baths, and master suites added above the original footprint — matched to the exterior, permitted, and built to stay.
At a glance
- Lead time
- 3–5 weeks
- Process
- Designer-led
- Materials
- Specified materials
- Service area
- DC, MD, VA
10+ years experience · across the DMV
Licensed & insured · certificates on request
Free estimates · itemized, in writing
In-house crews · no subcontractors on key trades
The second-story addition is the most transformative project a one-story DMV homeowner can do. Dzala has built second stories on Cape Cods in Falls Church, ranch-style homes in Vienna, and partial additions on split-levels in Herndon. The structural work is different for each one.
We assess the existing foundation and framing, design the structural reinforcement needed, and only then draw the addition. Exterior finishes — siding, windows, roofline — are designed to match or upgrade the original home so the addition reads as integral, not as an afterthought.
Why Dzala
Second stories that look like they were always there
The most common failure of a second-story addition is that it reads as an addition — a different roofline, mismatched siding, windows that do not belong to the original vocabulary. Dzala designs the exterior together with the structural engineer so the addition is cohesive from the street.
- Structural assessment before any design
- Exterior designed to read as original
- Adds 800–1,500+ sq ft of livable space
- Permits managed by Dzala
What you get
The details that separate a Dzala project from builder-grade alternatives.
Full permit drawings
Architectural and structural drawings submitted to county.
Exterior match
Siding, windows, and roofline matched or upgraded to existing home.
Master suite design
Primary bedroom, walk-in closet, and ensuite bath.
Recent work
Second Story we have shipped.
Reviews
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Frequently asked
Questions clients ask before booking.
Cannot find what you are looking for? Send a question.
Do I need to move out during a second-story addition?
Most clients prefer to relocate temporarily during the roof-off phase (typically 2 to 3 weeks). Once the new roof is on and the structure is closed, many families return. Dzala plans the sequence with your schedule in mind.
Serving DC neighborhoods
Second Story for the way DC houses are actually built.
Related programs
Service
Home Additions
Second-story additions, bathroom additions, in-law suites, and kitchen additions across the DMV.
Service
Bathroom Addition
Adding a bathroom where there was not one — full plumbing rough-in, structural framing, and finish.
Service
Residential Design
Residential architectural design for home additions, whole-home renovations, and remodeling in the DMV.
Ready when you are
Talk through your second story project with a designer.
90 minutes in our DC showroom. Material samples on the wall, your room on the table, no quote until we draw it.
- · No charge for the consultation
- · No quote sent without drawings
- · Designer-led — not sales
Get a free estimate for your second story project
On-site consultation. Written estimate. No pressure.