Renovations
Extensions and additions
For builders, designers and owner builders extending out, adding a storey or opening up a floor plan.
Joining new work to old
An extension is two structures that have to work as one. The existing house has done most of its settling; the new work hasn’t started. How the two are joined, or deliberately kept apart, is decided on the drawings, not on site.
What we do
- Check load paths in the existing building and confirm which walls are load-bearing
- Design beams, columns and supports for new layouts and openings
- Check existing footings and framing for upper-storey loads
- Design footings for the extension and the connection to the existing house
- Resolve problems found during demolition
What you receive
Beam and column schedules, footing design for the extension, connection details between old and new, and drawings and calculations for approval.
Common questions
Frequently asked
Can I remove a wall in my renovation?
Often, yes. We check what the wall carries, then design the beam and supports that replace it, down to the footings if needed.
What if problems turn up during demolition?
Call us before building over them. Rotted framing, missing footings and old alterations are common, and we can inspect and issue a fix so the job keeps moving.
Can my existing house take a second storey?
That depends on the existing footings, wall framing and load paths. We assess those first; the result tells you whether the house can carry the addition as is or needs strengthening.
Send us the plans and the site address
We’ll come back with a scope and an up-front fee.