Expert: Dan Griffin - 2/1/2008

Question
My husband and I are running out of room in a house that we gutted and remodeled 2 years ago.  We want to add a 2nd level to the home, and we may not have enough in our budget to finish the addition completely, but if we have the shell completed, we can easily handle the interior finishing later.  A contractor we met with said that the addition can run anywhere from $85-$100/sq ft.  This is a finished price.....Can you break down what the average price/sq. ft. for the shell and then, to finish the interior?  I was figuring about $60/$40.  I know it will depend on a lot on materials used; but, the upstairs will basically be 3 bedrooms, a bonus and 2 baths.  Tile in the baths, possibly hardwoods in the hall, but the rest will be carpeted. It's a 1300 sq. foot addition.  Thank you for any help you can provide.  

Jana---Charlotte, NC  

Answer
I do not believe in square foot pricing.  It just does not work out in the real world.  You have special problems related to all remodels that are doubled or tripled in adding a second floor.

You may need to offer to pay a builder for his time to discuss local pricing on getting in the dry on this type job.  He will have a good sense of framing costs, engineering fees, local code enforcement, and construction minimums.  You're worrying about finishes in a budget.  I would consider the finishes a very small portion of the job.