Expert: Dan Griffin - 8/5/2009

Question
I have a house with a ground floor builtup area of 200 sq.yards. The first floor has 2 rooms over an area of 100 sq.yards. I am planning to extend it to cover the full 200 sq.yards. Will the extension of the concrete reinforced roof compromise the integrity of the roof and create cracks in the ceiling?

Answer
Mohammed, I don't know if I understand your question fully.  I think you are telling me that you have a home that is about 1800 square feet with a second floor over a portion of it that is about 900 square feet and that you want to enlarge the second floor to the full 1800 square feet.

I don't know if the existing second floor is clear span or what it is bearing on.  You shuld have either a steel, concrete, masonry,or wood structural system that is carrying the concrete and transferring the load to the footing.  It would really help to know how the existing slab is being carried, how far it is spanning, and how thick it is.

There should be no problem adding the rest of the second floor as long as the loads are passed to the footing and that it is adequate.

If I've not understood the problem, please ask again.