Los Angeles Home Addition Contractor — Room Additions, Second Stories & Bump-Outs
Expand your living space with expertly crafted home additions designed for the way you live.
Hillstar Construction is a licensed and insured general contractor serving Los Angeles since 2010, backed by over 35 years of construction experience. We design and build room additions, open-concept expansions, and second-story additions in-house for homeowners across Woodland Hills, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, and Studio City.
★★★★★ 5.0 · 17 reviews on Houzz
24-Hour Response · Licensed & Insured (CSLB #972213)
Room Additions
A room addition is the most direct way to add square footage to an existing home without moving. Growing families add bedrooms, new home offices, private in-law suites, and expanded living rooms — and the goal of every addition we build is for the new space to feel like it's always been part of the house rather than tacked on after the fact.
Our crew handles every trade in-house: foundation, framing, roofing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, and finish work. We match the exterior materials, rooflines, and finishes to the existing structure so the addition reads as one continuous home from the curb. For homeowners who want to combine an addition with broader interior upgrades, we also handle full home remodeling projects on the same schedule — one team, one timeline, one point of contact. If you're still in the planning phase, our guide on home expansion planning walks through the key decisions homeowners need to make before breaking ground.
Open-Concept Expansions
Open-concept expansions combine two or more existing rooms — typically the kitchen, dining, and living areas — into a single connected space. For older Los Angeles homes built with compartmentalized floor plans, opening up the main living area is one of the highest-impact changes a homeowner can make. The result is more natural light, better flow between rooms, and a more social everyday layout.
The work usually involves removing or modifying walls, which requires structural engineering when load-bearing walls are involved. We handle the plans, the engineering, and the structural reinforcement that a proper open-concept expansion requires — not just the cosmetic finish. Open-concept projects almost always overlap with kitchen work, which is why we often combine an expansion with a full kitchen remodel or bundle in a bathroom remodel on the same build. Doing related work together keeps the project cleaner, faster, and easier to live through than scheduling each room separately.
Second Story Additions
When you want more space but the lot can't grow outward, building up is often the best option. A second-story addition preserves your backyard, driveway, and landscaping while adding bedrooms, a master suite, or a full living level on top of the existing home. It's a common path for LA homeowners in established neighborhoods where lot sizes are tight but ceiling height is available.
Second-story additions are structurally more involved than ground-floor work. The existing foundation and first-floor framing usually need to be reinforced to carry the new load, a new staircase has to be planned into the floor plan, and the roof has to be rebuilt to match the existing architecture. We handle all of that in-house, from structural plans to final exterior finish. If separate, self-contained living space is your actual goal rather than expanding the main home, an ADU is sometimes a better fit — we'll walk through both options at the consultation so you can decide which approach matches what you want out of the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a home addition in Los Angeles?
Yes. All structural additions in the City of Los Angeles require building permits, and most also require plan check review. We handle the full permit process — plan submission, coordination with inspectors, and final sign-off — so homeowners don't have to navigate the city process themselves.
How long does a home addition take to complete?
Most room additions take a few months from the start of construction, depending on the scope. Second-story additions and projects that involve foundation work or structural reinforcement typically take longer. Permit review time with the City of Los Angeles adds to the overall schedule. We provide a clear timeline at the consultation.
Can I add a second story to my home in Los Angeles?
In most cases, yes. Second-story additions are common in established Los Angeles neighborhoods where lot sizes are tight but zoning allows building up. The existing foundation and framing usually need structural reinforcement, and the roof is rebuilt to match the home's architecture. We handle all of this in-house.
What areas do you serve for home additions?
We serve homeowners across the greater Los Angeles area including Woodland Hills, Encino, Tarzana, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Beverly Hills, Northridge, Chatsworth, West Hills, Van Nuys, Reseda, West Hollywood, Bel Air, and West Los Angeles.
I highly recommend Hillstar Construction. I had water damage and had to remodel my house unexpectedly. Lior from Hillstar made this painstaking process much easier.
— Houzz reviewer, April 2019Lior is very personable and has many decades of construction experience. We appreciated his sincere evaluation of our project.
— Ann Anterasian, April 2019
Full-Service Construction Across Los Angeles
Hillstar handles every phase in-house. Explore related services we offer:
ADU Construction · Kitchen Remodeling · Bathroom Remodeling · Home Remodeling · Roofing · Concrete · Hardscape & Driveways · Interior Painting · Stucco