Adding Second Story to a one story home

[Anything'sPossible]

Here's the situation....

I'm living in a house that needs a new roof. The shingles are in bad shape and part of the decking underneath probably needs to be replaced. I also need to add on to the house because there just isn't enough room for the growing family. I thought about adding a second story while I replace the roof. I know this can be done because I have seen others do it. What's the best approach to this task? I would like to do most of it on my own, and have some help lined up. I have helped people frame before, and think I can do this.....

[Rich]

It will probably involve an engineer. If you can get one to approve a design for changing the trusses to an attic truss. The option I would probably go for is completely dismantling the roof and putting a floor in then framing up the second story.. and putting the trusses back on. That could be a pretty ambitious project but maybe not.

[Anything'sPossible]

That's actually what I had in mind. But can I just lay down plywood on the second floor and build new outside walls on up? Or, do I have to tie in the upstairs outside walls into the outside walls of the first floor somehow?

[roger g]

These sort of things should be done fast because when it rains you will lose all the savings by doing in yourself.

roger

[Anything'sPossible]

I may hire a crew to come in and tackle the big part and then finish the rest myself. The rain thing does worry me a bit.

[Rich]

Honestly with a long day and a little pre-planning you could have it done in 2 day. Pre-build the walls and strip the roof off the first day - try and leave the tar paper on. The next day strip the roof and pop the trusses off set the walls and set the trusses back on.
Ambitious for sure - but could be done.
In answer to your question - you should try and overlap the sheathing across the rim joist and down to the top plate of the wall below.