• About Us
    • Media
      • Media – Appearances | Conferences
      • Media – Radio | Podcasts
    • Contributors to Stagetecture
  • Decorate | Organize | Celebrate
  • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use Agreement
  • Advertise
  • Services | Portfolio
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Stagetecture - Living with Style

Simple Meal Planning - Plan to Eat
  • Home
  • Decor By Room
    • Kitchen and Bath
    • Bedroom and Living
    • Kids Organization
    • Office – Home or Work
    • Laundry Room
    • Outdoor Home
    • Home Staging | Home Organization
    • Moving | Realty
  • Food Recipes
    • Brunch
    • Easy Meals
    • Healthy Eating
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
  • Wellness
    • Green Living
    • Family/Kids
    • Pets
    • Travel
  • Inspiration
    • My Decor Lifestyle Ebook
    • Best Of – Round Up
    • D.I.Y.
    • Home Decor
      • Aesthetics – Colors & Textures
      • Architecture
    • Holiday
    • Weddings
    • Linky Parties
You are here: Home / Inspiration / Architecture / Home Design: When Your Lot is too Narrow to Build an Addition

Architecture

Home Design: When Your Lot is too Narrow to Build an Addition

Living downtown means being closer to great restaurants, universities and city cultural centers. To live downtown, however, often means settling for a narrow lot instead of a larger suburban yard.

Fortunately, homeowners can still add onto a narrow lot house when they can’t expand outward. You can either dig to construct or refinish a basement, or you can add an additional story to the top of your home or convert an attic into living space. Start by reviewing some of these house plans for narrow lots to generate ideas. Then, start talking to a builder about which solution will work for the existing structure.

home exterior modern architecture

Want to build but don’t have room on your lot? Build a second story to your home

Image via: Houzz

Home Design: When Your Lot is to Narrow to Build an Addition

Building Up: Adding a New Story

The most important question to ask before planning a second story addition is whether the current structure can support the additional weight. In addition to browsing through home plans, take these steps before deciding on a second story:

  • Call a structural engineer. An attic, if the house has one, weighs a lot less than a second story. Let a structural engineer evaluate whether or not the current foundation could support the new walls and new rooms a second story addition would bring.
  • Talk to the local building inspector. In addition to following the rules about minimum room sizes and ceiling heights, make sure the staircase leading to the attic is up to code. If it’s not, then include a new staircase in the building plans. It can be added outside the home and enclosed, or it can be carved out of existing interior space.
  • Think about HVAC. The new space will need ductwork and other necessities for heating and cooling. Some homeowners prefer a whole-house system while others prefer two separate zones.
  • Protect possessions. Building a second floor means the home becomes exposed to the elements for at least a short time. Homeowners should move their possessions into parts of the home that will stay enclosed, or they can put their items in storage to prevent weather damage.
construction_home2

Ask design professionals to help you map out a plan

Image via: Pinterest

Digging Deep: Carving Out Basement Space

Transforming a basement from a dark, dank, spider’s paradise into an extra living space, rec room or office can be another good way to add space to the narrow lot home.

It’s better to finish an existing basement than dig a new one under an existing home. However, an addition built toward the rear of a narrow lot can be built with a new basement space beneath. Keep these ideas in mind when remodeling a basement:

  • Eliminate moisture. A basement that floods isn’t a good candidate for a remodel. Start by addressing roof runoff, cleaning gutters, making the ground slope away from the foundation and sealing any foundation cracks. If these steps aren’t enough, have a professional install a basement drain.
  • Talk to a building inspector before starting the remodel. Ceiling height, emergency doors and windows (also called “egress”) and stairways are the biggest concerns when dealing with local building codes.
  • Improve air quality. The last thing a homeowner wants in a finished basement is musty basement smell. Reverse ventilation fans can pull in dry air during the winter, and air exchangers can vent moist air during the summer. Dehumidifiers are another option, but they can be expensive to run, and the water has to be dumped on a daily basis.
  • Light it up. A basement with large windows to the outside can take advantage of natural light, but many basements have only small, ground level windows. Start by clearing shrubs away from the windows to let in natural light. When possible, replace existing doors with glass panel doors to allow light to travel between rooms. Finally, add recessed lighting in the ceiling to provide additional light and avoid bumped heads on low fixtures.
basement media room2

Does your lot allow for a basement? This could be another option

Image via: HGTV

The Bottom Line

Finishing a basement usually costs less than adding a second story, but a second story can add character to the home’s exterior while taking advantage of natural light. While adding onto your home can increase your property value, ultimately the choice is up to you. Think less about which change would recoup a bigger part of the cost on resale, and think more about creating a comfortable space for the way you live.

For more architecture ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

 

 

Receive Stagetecture's Daily Lifestyle Ideas

FREE - Daily emails with recipes, home decor, D.I.Y, and lifestyle tips! : ) Who doesn't need help?

Stagetecture.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.


1 Comment

Sign Up for Home Ideas and Free Recipes!

STAGETECTURE NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to get our latest decor, recipes, and lifestyle ideas for FREE!!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by Kit

About Ronique

To read more of Ronique's posts

« Important Tips to Help Pack for International Travel
Summertime Treat: Hickory Nut Pie Dessert »

Comments

  1. Barenda Dennis says

    September 26, 2017 at 4:21 pm

    Oh this article is a perfect read. I know i can use this for all my clients whether they have narrow lots or not!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search for Recipes & Home Ideas

Stagetecture's Community

  • 1 Fans
  • 6,420 Followers
  • 5,864 Followers
  • 1 Followers
  • 6,031 Followers
  • 4,720 Posts

Sign Up for FREE Recipes & Home Ideas!

STAGETECTURE NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to get our latest decor, recipes, and lifestyle ideas for FREE!!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by Kit
Simple Meal Planning - Plan to Eat

Stagetecture on Pinterest

Visit Stagetecture's profile on Pinterest.

Image Credits

Many of the images on this site are strictly inspirational and WE DON'T CLAIM RIGHTS TO THEM. We have put source text below the images or have used stock images. Please contact us for any questions or comments.

Amazon Associates Disclosure

Stagetecture.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Disclosures

Posts on this site may contain affiliate links. If you purchase anything through certain links, a small portion of the cost comes back to us. Affiliates help to offset the expenses of running this blog. Please see the disclosure policy and terms of use agreement for full details. Thanks for supporting our site! :)

Our Featured DIY Projects

How to Construct a Pallet Furniture Table

How to Construct a Pallet Furniture Table

My Festive Porch Fall Decorating with Lowe’s Fall Wreaths

My Festive Porch Fall Decorating with Lowe’s Fall Wreaths

DIY Room Decor: How to Make a Mason Jar Bathroom Organizer

DIY Room Decor: How to Make a Mason Jar Bathroom Organizer

How We Updated our Home’s Exterior Design with Mid-America Vinyl Shutters

How We Updated our Home’s Exterior Design with Mid-America Vinyl Shutters

Mason Jar Crafts: DIY Mason Jar Ideas

Mason Jar Crafts: DIY Mason Jar Ideas

Copyright © 2025 · Divine theme by Restored 316