Home Addition Architect in Glendale
A home addition architect in Glendale has one job above the others: add the space you need without making your house the one on the block that looks added onto. Verdugo Studio designs second-story additions, rear additions and primary suites for Glendale homeowners who want to stay where they are.
Who this is for
Glendale families who have outgrown a two- or three-bedroom house but like their street, their school and their neighbors.
Additions we design
- Second-story additions, set back from the street so the original house still reads first.
- Rear additions for a family room, kitchen or primary suite opening to the yard.
- Primary suites over or beside the garage.
- Whole-house remodels with an addition, when the existing plan needs rethinking too.
Design review in Glendale
Second-story additions and most exterior additions go through Glendale's administrative design review before plan check. Staff look at scale against the neighbors, how far the new floor is set back, roof pitch, and whether the finishes match the original house. For a 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival house that means smooth stucco, not sand finish, and matching tile. Designing to those expectations from the start is usually the difference between a staff-level approval and a trip to the Design Review Board.
Structure and the existing house
Most Glendale houses from the 1920s to 1960s were not framed for a second floor. We bring a structural engineer in early to decide whether the existing walls carry the new floor or whether new posts and footings are needed, and we plan the work so you can live in the house during as much of the construction as possible.
Cost and timeline
Design, design review and permits for an addition typically run five to eight months. Construction runs six to twelve months depending on size. Fees are quoted after the site visit as a fixed fee or a percentage of construction cost, phase by phase.
Questions about this work
Will a second story need a hearing?
Most do not. A second story that is set back, matches the house and stays within the zone's height limit is usually approved at staff level through administrative design review.
Can I add on to a house in the Rossmoyne Historic District?
Yes. Additions to contributing houses are reviewed against the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, which favor additions at the rear that are lower than the main roof and clearly new.
How high can my house be?
Height limits depend on your zone and roof type. Many single-family zones in Glendale allow around 28 feet for a pitched roof. We confirm your limit at the site visit.
Related work
All projectsStart with a site visit.
A site visit is the first step. We walk the property, tell you what the lot allows, and give you a cost range before you commit to a fee.
Not sure the lot is buildable? Ask about a site feasibility review.