Second-Story Additions in the Twin Cities
Stonehearth Remodeling has been building up rather than out since 1999 — adding a full floor of living space without surrendering a single square foot of yard.
Double Your Living Space Without Losing Your Yard
On a tight city lot, in an established neighborhood, or anywhere the garden matters as much as the house, building up is often the only way to add real square footage. A second-story addition gives you bedrooms, bathrooms, and a primary suite on a footprint you already own.
It is also the most structural kind of home addition we build. Stonehearth has been doing it across the Minneapolis–St. Paul area since 1999, with in-house design and a structural plan settled long before the roof comes off.
Plan Your Second Story →Ways to Build Up
A second story doesn’t have to mean a whole new floor. Here are the shapes these projects usually take.
Full Second Story
A complete new floor across the existing footprint — typically three or four bedrooms, a primary suite, and a laundry room, roughly doubling your living space.
Partial Second Story
Build over part of the house only. It costs less than a full floor, keeps more of the existing roofline, and is often the better fit on a rambler or split-level.
Over-the-Garage Addition
The garage already has the footprint and often the foundation for it. Put a bedroom suite, office, or playroom above — see our garage additions.
Dormer Additions
A shed or gable dormer turns a cramped, sloped-ceiling upper floor into full-height, usable rooms — a far smaller project than a full second story.
Primary Suite Above
Move the primary bedroom upstairs with a walk-in closet and a new bathroom, then reclaim the old bedroom downstairs as an office or guest room.
Let’s Talk Through Your Options
Tell us what you need your home to do, and we’ll help you find the right fit and budget.
Get A Free Quote →Our Process,
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Initial Consultation
Design & Selections
Build & Communication
Final Walkthrough
Upper-Level Spaces We’ve Built in the Twin Cities
Is a Second-Story Addition Right for You?
Building up costs more per square foot than building out, but it earns that back in several situations:
- Your lot is already full. Setbacks, a small city lot, or a wetland buffer can make building out impossible — up is the only direction left.
- You don’t want to lose the yard. A second story adds bedrooms without taking the garden, the patio, or the play space.
- You need bedrooms, not living space. Bedrooms and bathrooms belong upstairs. Adding them there keeps the main floor open rather than carving it up.
- Your rambler feels cramped. A partial second story over a one-storey house is one of the biggest changes you can make to how a home lives.
- You love the neighborhood. Moving to get more space means giving up the location. Remodeling means you keep it.
What to Plan For in a Second-Story Addition
More than any other addition, this one lives or dies on what’s underneath it. We settle all of this before demolition day:
- Structural capacity: the foundation, the bearing walls, and the main-floor framing all have to carry a new floor. We verify what’s there and reinforce what isn’t.
- Where the stairs go: a new staircase takes main-floor square footage. Finding the least disruptive spot is usually the hardest part of the design.
- Roof removal and weather: the house is open to the sky for part of the build. We stage and protect the work so a rainstorm doesn’t reach your main floor.
- Heating and cooling: a second floor usually needs added ductwork, a resized furnace and air conditioner, or a separate zone to keep it comfortable.
- Zoning and height limits: cities cap overall height and regulate how close you can build to the line. We confirm the rules for your parcel before drawing.
- Where you’ll live: many families stay elsewhere while the roof is off. We tell you honestly, up front, how long that window is.
Stonehearth manages the structure, the permits, and the sequence. Learn more about our process.
Get A Free Quote →Our End-to-End Satisfaction Protocol
The only end-to-end solution that addresses the most common pitfalls in the remodeling industry.
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What Our Twin Cities Clients Say
EXCELLENT
Based on 50 reviews
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Shane StolarcekTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Great Experience with this company on every project. Their Team i worked with Jenna, Mike and Pat are very knowledgeable and easy to work with.Posted on Google![]()
Neil CramerTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Working with the folks at Stonehearth and with their contractors was an excellent experience. Everyone was a pleasure to work with and always conscious of the details and quality of the work. All minor delays and added costs were completely justified and we never felt like they were trying to add anything unnecessary , which hasn't always been the case in my experience with home remodeling. Stonehearth is one of the good ones and I totally recommend them.Posted on Google![]()
Quinn DeedsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Lance was able to answer my questions quickly and completely during the quote process. The company is trustworthy and transparent with their pricing.Posted on Google![]()
Josh KaupTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
The whole team at Stonehearth was great to work with. The 4 season porch addition turned out better than I could have ever dreamed. Communication was great, I knew where we at during every step of the process. I would highly recommend Stonehearth for your next home project.Posted on Google![]()
Alvin PloogTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
After having a working relationship with Stonehearth remodeling for over 4 years, I have nothing but positive feedback. The entire team at Stonehearth cares about your project and the satisfaction of the customer on each and every project! Carefully planning and detail goes into every step of the process from planning and initial budgets/selections all the way down to the finished product! If you're looking to remodel your home, add an addition, or just spruce up a room, Stonehearth Remodeling is your go to company!!Posted on Google![]()
Paul StewartTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
-Second Review after deck project (below) Back again with a review of the GREAT work by Stonehearth. We worked with Stonehearth on a project to rebuild our deck and once again, everything turn out GREAT! We got multiple bids and learned a lot along the way about decks but went with Stonehearth because on more than one visit they presented multiple options, brought out a carpenter to help us make decisions and were very responsive to texts, calls and emails. The work itself started as scheduled and went as planned. Pat & Mark who did the work are terrific guys and tolerated me poking my head around the corner to see what was going on. We also chose Stonehearth because we worked with them before on our kitchen remodel so we knew they would give us a fair bid and the work would be excellent. All turned out to be true. I would have hesitation recommending Stonehearth to family, friends or anyone. -Original Review after Kitchen Remodel (below) We hired StoneHearth for our kitchen remodeling project and everything turned out GREAT! My wife and I had been talking and planning this project for a couple of years so had a lot of specific goals including sourcing the wood for the cabinets and floor from a friend of ours who has a farm and sawmill. The people at StoneHearth listened to our plans & goals and didn’t immediately say “no” but said they would see what could be done. They listened to our ideas and did not say ‘it can’t be done or that’s too hard’. In the end StoneHearth was the only contractor who was willing to include our wood in the project as well as the other aspects of our plan. During the project all the milestones were met on time and as specified. StoneHearth has access to excellent tradesmen who did great work. Everything fits, functions and looks terrific. Communication and coordination was masterfully managed via email, text and a contractor website where everyone could review milestones, emails, photos and documents. True transparency! This is the first project where I can say that everything completed as specified, on schedule and we were still good friends when we reached the finish line. I give StoneHearth my highest recommendation. They are true professions!Posted on Google![]()
Jacquelyn JerdeTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Stonehearth Remodeling transformed our cabin into a beautiful, functional space while preserving its unique charm. The new kitchen and seamlessly connected outdoor kitchen are perfect for entertaining, and the bathrooms are stylish, cohesive, and fully ADA compliant. Their team’s craftsmanship, communication, and attention to detail exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend Stonehearth Remodeling for anyone seeking quality work and thoughtful design.Posted on Google![]()
Cathy CorgardTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I’ve had the privilege of working with Stonehearth Remodeling over the past several years. Their commitment to excellent processes and clear communication is truly impressive. With a well-established presence in the industry, they consistently deliver high-quality work and stand firmly behind every project. I highly recommend them!
Serving the Twin Cities Metro
We build second-story additions for homeowners across the greater Twin Cities area — from Andover and Coon Rapids to Bloomington, Minnetonka, and St. Paul. Give us a call to find out if we serve your location.
- Andover
- Anoka
- Blaine
- Bloomington
- Brooklyn Center
- Brooklyn Park
- Champlin
- Columbia Heights
- Coon Rapids
- Crosslake
- Eagan
- Edina
- Fridley
- Golden Valley
- Ham Lake
- Maple Grove
- Minneapolis
- Minnetonka
- Mounds View
- New Brighton
- Plymouth
- Ramsey
- St. Louis Park
- St. Paul
- White Bear Lake
Don’t see your city? Call us — we likely serve it.
Call 763-427-7330
Build Up, Not Out
Wondering whether your house can carry a second story? That’s the first question we answer — reach out today for a free, no-obligation consultation.