When you love your neighborhood but need more space, a well-designed addition is the answer. We build additions that look like they were always there — structurally sound, fully permitted, architecturally matched.
Home additions are the most complex residential construction project you can undertake — involving structural engineering, zoning compliance, architecture, foundation work, and the coordination of every trade simultaneously. Done right, the result is seamless. Done wrong, it shows for the life of the house.
We handle the full scope: design, structural engineering coordination, zoning research, permit applications, foundation and framing, exterior envelope, all mechanical rough-ins, and complete interior finishing. You make decisions; we do the heavy lifting — and we keep you informed every step of the way.
Additions involve more trades, more agencies, and more sequencing than any other home project. We manage every piece — you deal with one team.
We work with licensed architects to develop permit-ready drawings that fit your vision, your lot constraints, and your municipality's requirements — before a shovel touches the ground.
Excavation, concrete footings, foundation walls, and structural framing — engineered to code and inspected at every stage. This is where additions succeed or fail long-term.
Wall and roof framing built to match your home's pitch and profile, with ice-and-water shield, house wrap, and roofing materials that blend invisibly with what's already there.
Vinyl, fiber cement, brick, stone, hardie plank, and wood siding — matched precisely to your existing home's exterior so the addition looks original, not added on.
Energy-efficient windows and exterior doors matched to your existing profiles — sized, positioned, and installed for proper flashing and long-term weather tightness.
New circuits run from your panel, receptacles and switches placed for how the space will be used, recessed and pendant lighting, and all required code compliance.
Supply and drain rough-in for any wet space in the addition, plus new HVAC ductwork extended and balanced to properly condition the new square footage year-round.
Drywall, paint, trim, flooring, built-ins, cabinetry, and all finish details — designed to flow seamlessly from the existing home into the new addition without a visible seam.
The right type of addition depends on your lot, your zoning, your budget, and what you actually need. Here are the most common projects we build.
A new room built on a full foundation — the most structurally complete type of addition and the one with the highest resale value impact. Commonly used for primary suite additions, great rooms, family room expansions, and dedicated home offices. Requires full foundation, framing, roofing, exterior cladding, and complete interior finishing. Typically 200–600 sq ft and 12–18 weeks to build.
More than a sunroom — a fully insulated, climate-controlled addition with large glazed panels, radiant floor heat, and a roofline that ties into the existing home. Brings the outdoors in without sacrificing comfort in winter.
A smaller-scale addition that extends an existing room by 5–15 feet. Commonly used to enlarge a kitchen, expand a master bath, or create a breakfast nook. Less expensive than a full addition because it ties into the existing foundation and roof structure.
A self-contained living space with bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette — either attached to the main home or as a detached structure. Increasingly popular for aging parents, adult children, and short-term rental income. Subject to local ADU ordinances.
A bedroom and luxury bathroom added to the main floor or upper level — the single highest-value addition for resale in the Chicago metro market. Often combined with a walk-in closet, sitting area, and private access from the existing master bedroom.
When lot coverage limits prevent building out, building up is the answer. A second-story addition doubles livable square footage without touching the footprint. Requires structural assessment of the existing foundation and first-floor walls before design begins.
The test of a great addition isn't whether it's beautiful in isolation — it's whether you can tell it was added. We obsess over the details that make the difference between a house that looks obviously extended and one that looks perfectly whole.
Additions are regulated at every level — local, municipal, and sometimes by private covenants. We research all of this before committing you to a design direction so nothing is a surprise later.
Every municipality requires a minimum distance between your addition and your property lines — front, rear, and side. These setbacks can significantly limit how large an addition can be and where it can be placed. We pull your plat of survey, check zoning ordinances, and confirm the buildable envelope before any design work begins. Some lots allow variances, which we can apply for on your behalf.
Many neighborhoods in the Chicago metro have homeowners associations or recorded deed restrictions that govern exterior changes — including additions. Approval from an architectural review committee may be required before you apply for municipal permits. We help you understand what needs HOA sign-off and what doesn't, and we can help prepare the application package if needed.
Every addition requires stamped structural engineering drawings — not just architectural plans. The engineer determines foundation sizing, beam spans, connection details, and load paths. For second-story additions, the existing first-floor structure and foundation must be assessed for adequacy before any design is finalised. We coordinate this as part of the pre-permit process, not as an afterthought.
Additions require building permits — always. In most Chicago-area municipalities this also means multiple inspections: foundation, framing, rough mechanical, and final. We prepare and submit all permit documentation, schedule and manage all inspections, and obtain the final Certificate of Occupancy. Skipping any part of this process creates serious problems at resale and with your insurance — and we never advise it.
Additions have a longer planning phase than any other project we do — because the design and permit stage is where all future problems are either prevented or created.
We walk your property, review your plat of survey, confirm setbacks, check HOA requirements, assess the existing structure, and understand exactly what you need more space for. This shapes everything that follows.
Architectural plans are drawn, structural engineering is coordinated, and you review and approve the design before anything is submitted. We refine until the plans reflect exactly what you've envisioned.
We submit to the municipality, manage all back-and-forth with the building department, and if HOA approval is required we prepare that submission too. Permit timelines vary by municipality — we manage the wait without it holding up material ordering.
Excavation, footings, foundation walls, sill plates, and full structural framing — inspected at each phase before the next begins. The roof is framed, sheathed, and weather-tight before interior work touches the existing home.
Roofing, siding, windows, and exterior doors are installed to match the existing home. Simultaneously, all mechanical rough-ins run — electrical, plumbing, and HVAC — each inspected before insulation and drywall close the walls.
Insulation, drywall, paint, trim, flooring, cabinetry, fixtures, and all finish details — matched to the existing home and installed to our standard. Final inspection passed, Certificate of Occupancy issued, punch-list walked with you, job closed.
Material selection for an addition balances two goals: durability appropriate for exterior exposure, and visual consistency with your existing home. We help you navigate both.
Addition costs are driven by type, square footage, structural complexity, and finish level. These ranges reflect our completed projects in the Chicago metro area.
Sunroom
Four-season sunroom addition with radiant floor heat, vaulted ceiling, clerestory windows, and French doors to the patio.
Second Story
Full second-story addition adding three bedrooms and two bathrooms above an existing ranch-style home. Exterior matched to existing brick profile.
Primary Suite
Main-floor addition adding a primary bedroom, luxury bathroom, and walk-in closet — siding and roofline perfectly matched to the existing home.
Additions generate more questions than any other type of project — because they involve zoning law, structural engineering, neighbor proximity, and a longer timeline than most homeowners expect. None of that should stop you from exploring what's possible.
The best way to get real answers is to have us walk your property. Mark will tell you what's possible on your specific lot, what isn't, and what it's likely to cost — before you commit to anything.
Real feedback from real customers we've had the privilege of working with.
Soandy and Mark Lovering are amazing to work with. They are our GO TO for Remodels. They can handle any project big or small. From Bathroom to Kitchen remodels they are the best.
Project manager Fernando did a great job assessing my project. My project was complicated and some companies refused to do the work, but Fernando and his team were able to fix structural issues I had on my upstairs floorboards and they were able to fix crooked joists inside my floors. Lead worker Angel also finished off the job by doing a nice tile job on my floors. The price was fair and they finished the job on time.
Mark provided us with the service we expect from a contractor. We had him lead all of the hard parts of our remodel. There were no surprises or changes to his bid that weren't caused by us. For the most part, his subs were quick and responsive, and listened to direction well. When of one of his subs did not perform to our expectations, he made sure that we were satisfied by first trying to get the sub to fix things, then getting an alternate sub to complete the job to our satisfaction. We hope he is available for our next project after we save some $ for it!