Monterey Park, Los Angeles County
Second story additions in Monterey Park
Before a Monterey Park house takes a second story, Aspenwell Construction checks footings and ground floor walls, then strengthens them to carry the load.
Adding a floor above a Monterey Park house makes structural work the opening job, since the original footings and walls were likely sized for a single story of weight. Before rooms are sketched, we dig a test hole beside the foundation to see its width and depth, and we follow each bearing wall down from the ceiling to the concrete. Those findings tell the engineer how much of the ground floor must be strengthened first.
New footings and shear walls below
Where the engineer finds the old footing too small, new concrete is poured beside or beneath it in short sections so the wall above stays supported. Corners that will carry upper posts get their own pads. On the ground floor, chosen walls are sheathed and nailed as shear walls, with hold downs anchoring their ends to fresh concrete, so the added floor can resist being pushed sideways in a quake. Upper framing waits until this base is inspected, because each new stud above relies on what was done here.
Staging close to the neighbors
A second floor needs room for lumber, a concrete pump on pour days and sometimes a crane to set beams. On a narrow lot with a house close to the property line, we plan where each load is dropped and which side of the house stays clear for access. The building department for Monterey Park reviews the addition plans, structural sheets included, and an inspector sees footings, hold downs and framing at each stage. Roofing over the old part is opened only when the new walls are ready, so the house is exposed to weather for as short a stretch as the work allows.
What we build in Monterey Park
Structural work comes first on this list, and every service starts with a look at the framing and foundation.
Plan structural work in Monterey Park
Send the form and we will arrange a visit, then put the scope in writing.