Second Story Addition: Architect Fees and Cost Estimates

Barry Shaw
Aug 15
2 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

Second Story Addition in Boulder, Colorado

🏡 Second Story Addition vs. New Home: Architect Fees & Cost Insights

We recently consulted with a homeowner in Boulder County seeking guidance on architect consulting fees—specifically for a Second Story Addition compared to building a new custom home. To help them evaluate the best approach, we provided a detailed breakdown of estimated fees, design requirements, and projected construction timelines based on overall livable square footage.

📐 Scope of Work & Fee Comparison

Every residential project is unique, but for the sake of comparison, we based our analysis on an “average” quality level of home materials. Note: fees for additional consulting engineering services—such as Civil, Soils, Structural, Energy, HVAC, Electrical, or Plumbing—are not included in the base architectural fee estimates.

🏠 New Custom Home (3,000 sq. ft.)

Requires full set of architectural plans (approx. 20 sheets at 36”x24”)
Estimated Architect Fee: $85,000–$110,000
Plan development timeline: 6–7 months
Add additional time for City/County review and approvals

🏗️ Pop-Top / Second Story Addition (1,500 sq. ft.)

Second Story Addition on top of an existing 1,500 sq. ft. home
Includes major remodel of the first floor
Requires approximately 12 sheets of plans
Estimated Architect Fee: $50,000–$65,000
Plan development timeline: 4–5 months

As you can see, a Second Story Addition offers a substantial savings in both time and architect fees compared to a new custom build. It’s an excellent option for homeowners looking to expand their space without relocating or starting from scratch.

🛠️ Additional Consulting Services

If you're planning a Second Story Addition, we can provide a range of architectural consulting services to support your decision-making, including: