Block home, increase wall height by adding more blocks?

TECventures · Jan 4, 2021

There is a block concrete home which I am completely gutting that has 8ft ceilings. Ideally I would like to chop the roof off, and build up the concrete block walls and re-stucco / drywall / frame inside and reinstall roof.

While this seems expensive, it saves on time building from scratch and gets the higher ceilings buyers are looking for.

can this be done?

tgeb · Jan 4, 2021

Yes, consult an engineer and architect. Follow their recommendations. You'll be fine.

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Windycity · Jan 4, 2021

I don’t see any reason not to add an extra course or two on top

Sounds pretty straightforward

David

wallmaxx · Jan 4, 2021

If you're unsure if it can be done, then you don't know, correct?
Are you a builder or the home owner?

My answers will vary depending on your response.

Be safe.

griz · Jan 4, 2021

TECventures said:
There is a block concrete home which I am completely gutting that has 8ft ceilings. Ideally I would like to chop the roof off, and build up the concrete block walls and re-stucco / drywall / frame inside and reinstall roof.

While this seems expensive, it saves on time building from scratch and gets the higher ceilings buyers are looking for.

can this be done?

EXPENSIVE...you have no idea...

very doubtful you will save any time over building new...

are you a contractor or one of them flipper guys????

Windycity · Jan 4, 2021

Yes it’s going to be stupid expensive

David

Mordekyle · Jan 4, 2021

OP,

Don’t listen to these guys too much, they tend to be salty.

I’ve had a good degree of success doing the exact same thing you want to do.

A good masonary supply store should stock the best adhesive for the job. It’s called “CMU350.” If they don’t have it, they can order it.

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Mordekyle · Jan 6, 2021

I think I should get 350 bonus points for intentionally using the word “masonary.”

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Windycity · Jan 4, 2021

I have never heard of cmu 350

David

MarkJames · Jan 4, 2021

CMU tree fiddy?

Robie · Jan 4, 2021

Cheaper on Amazon...of course.

MarkJames · Jan 4, 2021

Chopping roofs off is going to be big in 2021.

hdavis · Jan 4, 2021

Yes, it can be done. It may or may not be cost effective, depending.

Brace, cut loose, crane it off to the ground.

griz · Jan 4, 2021

If one has enough time and a big enough checkbook, dam near anything can be done....

Seven-Delta-FortyOne · Jan 5, 2021

Had a draftsman a few years back who was fond of saying “The impossible just costs more”.

Of course, all he had to do was draw it. I had to build it. 😳🤣

Robie · Jan 4, 2021

I think I saw this on some home remodeling show years ago.
Was done in one weekend.
Pretty cool...and inexpensive.

hdavis · Jan 4, 2021

My concern would really be the existing block wall. You can drystack and stucco up to 8' IIRC. The existing may not be up to adding more height.

Filled cells, rebar, bonding, a good mason should figure out what can be done with the existing walls.

Pounder · Jan 4, 2021

I can't see how blowing off the roof, adding a course of block, then reframing the roof is going to net any sort of return on a flip.

StabMasterArs0n · Jan 6, 2021

You would be surprised what is "cost effective" in my market. Sometimes it has to do with permitting and existing setbacks.

wallmaxx · Jan 4, 2021

In a flipper's mind.....beat down the unlicensed subs, paint over everything and find a sucker to offload it to when done. Very little pride in making something correct or built to last.....only looking for that max dollar not matter who suffers.

Pounder · Jan 5, 2021

I've actually seen a couple good flips, and a fair bit of trash.
I once helped a fellow who was doing his first flip, subbing everything and getting really bad advice from his subs. After I framed it for him, I gave him a list of subs, and few ideas. A few months later I got a check in the mail from him for 10% of the money I saved him, the check was for three thousand bucks.

hdavis · Jan 5, 2021

I looked at a property with plaster and lath, 1 1/2 stories. Priced out lifting the roof, and investor put in a offer that was maybe 5K below the final sale price.

Picking up all that 2nd floor area would have been worth it .

hdavis · Jan 5, 2021

Buddy of mine spent decades doing nothing but flips. Very clean work.

JBH · Jan 5, 2021

Did this last year with an 1100 sq ft bungalow. After taking off the roof, removed a course or two of loose brick on the existing (double wythe) walls, added couple of courses of block with rebar, then built a 2nd floor addition on top. Result: 9' ceiling on the ground floor, 8' on the 2nd. This was a $19K 'upgrade' which we negotiated with the homeowner before the architect drew up the plans. The actual execution didn't cost a fraction of that. Pix (the reno was nothing fancy on the outside): Bungalow Top-Up Addition - Elmont Drive

Windycity · Jan 5, 2021

JBH said:
Did this last year with an 1100 sq ft bungalow. After taking off the roof, removed a course or two of loose brick on the existing (double wythe) walls, added couple of courses of block with rebar, then built a 2nd floor addition on top. Result: 9' ceiling on the ground floor, 8' on the 2nd. This was a $19K 'upgrade' which we negotiated with the homeowner before the architect drew up the plans. The actual execution didn't cost a fraction of that. Pix (the reno was nothing fancy on the outside): Bungalow Top-Up Addition - Elmont Drive

Yeah, but I think the difference here is you adding a second story so you have to take the roof off regardless so That makes it worth it to raise the first floor height

David

jomama · Jan 7, 2021

I pulled the roof off of our shop and added 5 courses of block about 15 years ago, followed by new scissor trusses, perlins, and steel roofing. Obviously not a flip, but easy to do none the less,

Block home, increase wall height by adding more blocks?

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