Home Additions in Ardmore, PA
More room without leaving the neighborhood you chose. MAG Development designs and builds premium additions for Ardmore homes — rear extensions, second stories and in-law suites engineered for Lower Merion lots, setbacks and housing stock.
Why Ardmore homeowners build rather than move
Ardmore is one of the hardest places on the Main Line to trade up. Inventory is tight, Lower Merion schools keep demand high, and the walkable blocks around Suburban Square and the train are exactly why people bought here in the first place. Adding to the house you already own is very often the cheaper and less disruptive answer.
The constraint is the lots. Ardmore developed early and densely — twins, colonials and foursquares on relatively modest parcels — so lot coverage, side-yard setbacks and impervious surface limits shape what is buildable long before anyone talks about finishes. That is a design problem, and solving it on paper first is what keeps an addition from stalling at the township.
For what an addition costs across this market, see our home addition cost guide.
Four additions that work well on Ardmore lots
Rear extension
Pushing the back of the house out to open the kitchen into a family room. The most common Ardmore addition, and usually the best use of a shallow rear yard.
Second story
Building up instead of out when lot coverage is already maxed. Adds bedrooms and baths without touching the footprint — see the second story cost guide.
In-law suite
A private bedroom, bath and sitting area for a parent or adult child. Ardmore’s proximity to Bryn Mawr Hospital makes this a frequent request.
Primary suite
A proper owner’s suite with a spa bath and walk-in closet — the room most original Ardmore floor plans never had.
What building in Lower Merion actually involves
Lower Merion Township reviews carefully, and Ardmore’s older housing stock brings its own surprises: undersized electrical service, knob-and-tube remnants, framing that was never sized for a second floor, and foundations that need evaluation before anything is built on top of them.
We handle design, structural engineering, permitting and construction as one scope, so the engineer’s requirements and the township’s comments are resolved before demolition rather than discovered during it. On a street where neighbours are close, we also plan staging, parking and dust control as part of the job rather than an afterthought.
How a home additions project runs in Ardmore
Consultation
We walk the house, talk through what is not working, and give an honest read on what your lot and budget allow.
Design & engineering
Drawings, structural calculations and a fixed scope — including how the addition ties into the existing roofline and systems.
Permits
We prepare and submit the Lower Merion package and manage review comments through to approval.
Build
One accountable crew, a published schedule, and a walkthrough at completion with final inspection signed off.
Additions across Ardmore and the Main Line
We build throughout the Main Line and into South Jersey — see home additions in Bryn Mawr for how the same work runs a few stops up the line, or in-law suites in Villanova if the project is a suite for family. Explore the other towns we work in:
Ardmore home addition FAQ
How much does a home addition cost in Ardmore?
Most Main Line additions run $250–$400 per square foot all-in. A rear extension typically lands between $130,000 and $300,000, while a full second story commonly runs $200,000–$450,000+. Our cost guide breaks it down by size and type.
Do I need a variance to add on in Ardmore?
Sometimes. Lower Merion sets lot coverage, impervious surface and setback limits, and Ardmore lots are small enough that a larger addition can bump into them. We establish that at design, before you commit — a variance is a timeline question, not usually a dead end.
How long does an Ardmore addition take?
Plan on three to four months of design, engineering and township approval before construction, then three to eight months of building depending on scope. A second story sits at the longer end.
Can we stay in the house during construction?
Usually yes for a rear extension, since the work is largely outside the existing envelope until tie-in. A second story generally means moving out for part of the build once the roof is opened.
Will an addition match the original house?
That is the point. Matching stucco, stone, brick coursing, window proportions and rooflines is what separates an addition that reads as original from one that looks bolted on — and on Ardmore blocks the difference is very visible.
Do you handle architecture, or do I need my own architect?
We handle it. MAG is design-build, so architecture, engineering, permits and construction sit with one accountable team.