When you love your neighborhood but have outgrown your home’s footprint, there is only one way to go: Up. A second-story addition (often called a “pop-top”) is the ultimate way to double your living space without losing a single blade of grass in your backyard.
At Genesee Remodeling, we specialize in the complex engineering required to transform ranch-style and one-story homes into spacious, multi-level residences across Genesee and Oakland Counties.
Preserve Your Outdoor Space: Perfect for smaller lots in established neighborhoods where a ground-level “bump-out” isn’t possible.
Double Your Square Footage: Gain an entire floor of new bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry space while keeping your main floor for living and entertaining.
Boost Property Value: Moving from a 3-bedroom ranch to a 5-bedroom colonial significantly increases your home’s market equity and “curb appeal.”
Better Views: Take advantage of Michigan’s natural beauty with elevated views you simply can’t get from the ground floor.
Adding a second floor is more than just framing; it’s a structural transformation. We follow a rigorous process to protect your existing home:
Before a single board is cut, we analyze your existing foundation and wall plates. We ensure your home’s "bones" can safely support the weight of a new story, adding reinforcement where necessary to meet Michigan building codes.
One of the biggest fears of "building up" is exposure to the elements. Our crews are experts at rapid-dry-in techniques, ensuring your home is protected from rain and snow during the transition phase.
We don't just "stick a box" on top of your house. Our designers work to ensure the new roofline, siding, and windows flow naturally with the original structure, making the addition look like it was part of the initial build.
Adding onto your home is a major investment. We’ve refined a "no-surprises" workflow to ensure the process is as smooth as the final result.
The Master Retreat: Use the entire new floor to create a massive primary suite with a walk-in closet, luxury spa bathroom, and a private balcony.
The “Kids’ Wing”: Move all bedrooms upstairs to create a dedicated zone for the children, leaving the main floor open for a larger kitchen and vaulted great room.
The Full Raise: Transform a small bungalow into a modern two-story home with 3+ bedrooms and a second-story laundry room for ultimate convenience.
While some homeowners choose to stay, we generally recommend vacating for the most intensive phase of construction (when the roof is removed). However, we work on a tight schedule to get you back into your home as quickly as possible.
Integrating the staircase is the most important part of the design. We look for “dead space” on your first floor—like a large closet or an oversized hallway—to place the stairs so they don’t eat into your existing living area.
Most Michigan homes are built with sturdy foundations, but a second story adds significant “load.” We perform a full inspection and, if needed, we can reinforce the footings or walls to ensure your home is structurally sound for decades to come.
