Home Additions in Calgary: Second Storeys, Rear Additions and Bump-Outs
Calgary Framers builds structural additions onto existing homes across Calgary and the surrounding towns. Foundation, framing, roof tie-in, envelope, and the permit path from development permit through final inspection.
An addition is the most structurally demanding thing you can do to a house that people live in. You are cutting into an existing load path, tying new framing to old framing that has already settled, and making a new roof and a forty-year-old roof behave like one assembly. That is framing work, and it is what we do.
Free feasibility visit: what your district allows, before you pay for design
Foundation, framing, roof tie-in and envelope by one contractor
Development and building permits prepared and submitted by us
Structural engineering coordinated where the scope requires a stamp
Free on-site assessment · Fixed-scope written quote · No obligation
7am–7pmSeven days a week
LicensedCity of Calgary #BL305276
WCB-coveredAccount #11046842
Insured$5M liability, Intact
Open 7 days7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
What we build
Types of Addition We Build
From a single-room bump-out to a full second storey. Each one a different structural problem, all of them ours.
Rear addition
New foundation, floor system, walls and roof extending off the back of the house.
Second storey addition
Removing the existing roof, verifying the foundation and bearing walls can carry the new load, framing a full storey, re-roofing.
Partial second storey
A storey over part of the footprint, usually over the garage or the rear half of a bungalow.
Bump-out
A small cantilevered or footed extension of a single room: kitchen, dining, ensuite.
Garage conversion
Converting attached garage space into heated living space: insulated slab or new floor system, envelope, egress.
Above-garage addition
Living space framed over an existing attached or detached garage.
Sunroom and four-season room
Framed, insulated, permitted living space rather than a prefab enclosure.
Mudroom and rear entry addition
Small-footprint addition off the back or side entry.
Case in point
The Sunroom That Became a Real Room
A prefab vinyl sunroom is a cold box with a heater in it.
The photograph beside this is one stripped out and reframed as a properly insulated four-season
addition: new windows installed, wall and sloped ceiling fully insulated, and air-seal sealant
beaded around every window perimeter and along the wall-to-floor junction.
That detail is the difference between a room you use in February and a room you close off in
October.
A former vinyl sunroom reframed as an insulated addition. Note the black sealant bead around each window perimeter, applied before the vapour barrier.
The same detail again, on another addition. Acoustic sealant beaded continuously
along the bottom plate, up the corner and around the window opening, before the vapour barrier goes
over the batt insulation. That is the air barrier being made continuous rather than nearly
continuous, and it is invisible the moment the drywall goes on, which is exactly why it is the first
step a rushed crew skips.
Standard scope
What's Included in an Addition Build
Twelve stages from the structural assessment to permit closure, quoted as one scope.
Structural assessmentOf the existing foundation, bearing walls and floor system, to confirm they can carry the new load
Engineering coordinationStructural drawings and stamp where the scope requires them
PermitsDevelopment permit and building permit applications prepared and submitted
Excavation and foundationFootings and foundation wall, or piles, depending on soil and design
Floor systemJoists, rim, subfloor, tied into the existing structure
Wall framingExterior walls, sheathing, and the connection detail into the existing wall assembly
Roof framing and tie-inThe detail that decides whether the addition leaks in ten years
Building envelopeWRB, drainage plane, flashing, window and door openings
Rough-insBy licensed, permitted electrical, plumbing and HVAC trades
Insulation and finishingVapour barrier, drywall, trim, paint and interior finish
Exterior finishMatched to the existing house so the addition reads as original
InspectionsAll called, attended and passed through to permit closure
Before
After: rebuilt pressure-treated stairs and landing
Procedural
How an Addition Project Runs
Eleven stages. The permit stages sit ahead of everything and are the least predictable part of
the schedule.
On living in the house during the build: most rear and above-garage additions can
be built with the family in the home for the majority of the schedule. Full second-storey additions
generally cannot, because the roof comes off. We tell you which one your project is at the feasibility visit,
not halfway through.
01
Feasibility visit.
We assess the existing structure, the site, the setbacks and the grade, and tell you what is realistically buildable before you spend money on design.
02
Design and engineering.
Drawings produced; structural engineering where the scope requires a stamp.
03
Development permit.
Reviewed against your land-use district for setbacks, height, coverage and floor area ratio. This is the stage with the longest and least predictable timeline, and it is where neighbour notification happens.
04
Building permit.
Submitted once the development permit is approved.
05
Site preparation and excavation.
Utility locates, protection of the existing structure, excavation.
06
Foundation.
Footings and foundation walls or piles, inspected and backfilled.
07
Framing.
Floor, walls, roof. The existing structure is opened to the new space at the latest responsible moment to keep the house weather-tight and livable as long as possible.
08
Roof tie-in and envelope.
New roof married to the existing roof; WRB, flashing and openings sealed.
09
Rough-ins and inspections.
10
Insulation, drywall, finishing, exterior finish.
11
Final inspection, permit closure, written warranty.
The critical path
The Permit Reality in Calgary
Additions are one of the few residential projects where the development permit, not the building permit, is the critical path.
A development permit assesses your addition against the rules of your land-use district: setbacks
from each property line, maximum building height, site coverage, floor area ratio, and privacy
and shadowing impacts on neighbouring properties.
If your design exceeds any of those, you are asking the City for a relaxation, and the application
goes to a longer review with a neighbour notification and appeal period attached.
Outside Calgary, each of Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, Chestermere, Rocky View County and Foothills County
sets its own land-use bylaw. We confirm the applicable authority and its
current rules before quoting.
This is why we do the feasibility visit before you commission drawings. Designing
an addition that your district will not permit is the most expensive mistake available in this
category, and it is entirely avoidable.
Before you spend on design
Book the feasibility visit first
We assess the existing structure, the site, the setbacks and the grade, and tell you what is realistically buildable, before you commission a single drawing.
If the square footage you need already exists under your floor, developing the basement is dramatically cheaper than adding to the footprint. If you need above-grade bedrooms, a larger
kitchen, or a second storey, an addition is the only path that gets you there without moving. We will
tell you honestly which one your situation calls for, including when the answer is the cheaper one.
Where the existing structure has to be reinforced before it can carry an addition (a settled
foundation, an over-notched floor system, a bearing wall that has moved) that work is
structural repair, and we price it separately and
plainly rather than burying it in the addition number. If the addition changes an existing
deck line, that comes into the same scope.
Coverage
Where We Build Additions
Calgary, all quadrants, plus the surrounding communities:
Load path, beam sizing, floor systems and roof tie-in are our trade. Wood framing and structural carpentry is what Calgary Framers does every week. On an addition, those are not details; they are the whole job.
Honest feasibility first
We would rather tell you at the first visit that your district will not allow the addition you are picturing than take a deposit and find out at development permit review.
An addition that reads as original
Roof line, exterior finish and window proportions designed at drawing stage rather than resolved on site. The roof tie-in is the detail that decides whether it looks bolted on, and whether it leaks in ten years.
Fixed-scope written quotes
With a written workmanship warranty issued on handover.
Verifiable credentials, on file
City of Calgary Business Licence
#BL305276Licensed contractor, issued by The City of Calgary
WCB-Alberta account
#11046842Active coverage, clearance letters on request
Commercial general liability
$5,000,000Through Intact Insurance Company
GST registration
71279 1433 RT0001Incorporated in Alberta
Safety association
ACSA memberAlberta Construction Safety Association
Reviews from Calgary homeowners we have built for.
They recently did a fantastic custom framing job for my new deck, and I couldn’t be happier. The attention to detail and craftsmanship were top-notch. Not only did they deliver a sturdy and beautiful frame, but they also took the time to understand my vision and bring it to life.
MartinArbour Lake, Calgary
They transformed my outdoor space, and the framing work they did was absolutely flawless. From the initial consultation to the final touches, their team was professional and efficient. If you’re looking for a reliable and skilled deck builder, look no further than Calgary Framers.
BryanEdgemont, Calgary
They recently built a fence for my property, and I’m beyond impressed with the quality of their workmanship. The framing of the fence is solid and durable, providing both privacy and security for my home. The team was friendly, professional, and completed the project in a timely manner.
JaneBowness, Calgary
Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Still unsure? Call (587) 355-2799, 7am–7pm, 7 days. We would
rather answer a question now than quote the wrong scope later.
Do I need a permit for a home addition in Calgary?
Yes. In most cases both a development permit and a building permit, plus trade permits for electrical, plumbing and HVAC. The development permit is usually the longer of the two, because it assesses your addition against your land-use district’s setback, height and coverage rules.
Can my bungalow support a second storey?
Sometimes. It depends on the existing foundation, the bearing walls and the floor system. Some homes carry a second storey with modest reinforcement; others need significant foundation and bearing work first. That assessment is the first thing we do, and it determines whether a second storey or a rear addition is the better project.
How long does a home addition take in Calgary?
Construction on a typical rear addition runs roughly three to five months. Second storeys run longer. Permits sit ahead of all of that and are the least predictable part of the schedule, and a development permit requiring a relaxation can add months on its own.
Can we live in the house during construction?
Usually yes for rear, bump-out and above-garage additions. Usually no for a full second storey, because the existing roof is removed. We are direct about this at the feasibility visit so you can plan.
How do you stop the addition looking bolted on?
Roof line, exterior finish and window proportions. The roof tie-in is designed at drawing stage rather than resolved on site, and the exterior finish is matched to the existing house. An addition that reads as original was designed that way from the first sketch.
What does an addition cost in Calgary?
Cost per square foot varies widely with foundation type, storey count, roof complexity and finish level. We quote on site with the scope itemised, after the feasibility assessment tells us what is actually buildable.
Is an addition cheaper than moving?
It depends on the market and how much space you need. What an addition buys that moving does not is keeping your neighbourhood, your schools and your commute. What moving buys that an addition does not is no construction in your home.
Do you build additions outside Calgary?
Yes. Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane, Okotoks, Strathmore, High River and the surrounding counties, subject to each municipality’s own land-use bylaw.
Get started
Book your free addition assessment
Tell us what you are planning. We will come out, look at the site, and put a fixed-scope
quote in writing, with the scope itemised so you can see exactly what moves the number.
No-obligation on-site assessment
Fixed-scope written quote: the quote number is the invoice number
Permits prepared and submitted by us where they are required
