There is a dilemma being faced by people who are planning to build or buy a house. Should they go for a single-story or a double-story house? While you might think that this is a very simple concern, choosing is a little tricky. You must be clever and practical enough to choose the best house for you and your family. It is not easy to buy or build a new house. This article will guide you in choosing the best house style and type for you. Read on.
There are several factors to consider when building or buying a house for the first time. Bear in mind that you are building or buying because you will live in it not for a moment but for a longer period of time. It may be your first and last home. Well, because building or buying a house is not like buying clothes when you feel like it or when there is a new fashion trend! Your goal is to buy and stay in it for the rest of your life.
If you have a big family, a good option must be a double-story house because it is big enough to accommodate the members of the family. If you are a single occupant or a couple seeking privacy then a single-story might be a better option. The location of the house and the budget are also factors to consider but in this article, we will only address which is a better choice for you, a single-story or a double-story home.
There are several ways to compare the advantages of a bungalow against a storied home. Your choice will mostly be affected by your personal taste, your available budget, and the needs of your family. Both house types and designs have their own benefits and drawbacks. We will present them to you and after reading this article, we hope that you will choose smartly which house is for you.
A bungalow house is a one-story house, cottage, or cabin. Bungalows are generally small in terms of area, but it is also common to see Bungalows with larger Areas. Because of its ease in mobility and affordability, Bungalows were originally designed for the working class.
A 2-storey house is a house having two floors or levels. It is more expensive than the bungalow type and it maximizes the lot area of a given property. Should you build a one-story or two-story home? How do you choose one over the other? Aside from your personal opinion on whether you prefer stairs — or not — there are some practical advantages and limitations to both. So let’s look at them, starting with the two-story designs.
Advantages of Two Story Homes
- The cost to build per square foot is less. We all know that most of the budget of building a house goes to its foundation. Building the foundation of a double-story house may require less space because you are expanding upward not sidewards. You are building on a smaller footprint so the cost for excavation, foundation and roof installation is less.
- Better views. When you have a storied home, your views are better. Having a balcony or terrace will give you a full view of nature from an elevated area. You can also enjoy cooler surroundings because the upper floors are properly ventilated.
- The outdoor space is larger. Building a double-story takes up less land space. This means that you can have a larger space for your outdoor activities. You can build a gazebo or a mini garden in your extra outdoor living areas.
- A wide array of designs. There are many ways to make a storied home beautiful. You can add a terrace, balcony, roof deck, and small porches by the windows. Parapets are a good feature, too.
- Privacy and convenience. The living room, kitchen, and dining are usually built on the ground floor while the bedrooms are built upstairs. This provides privacy from being disturbed by your children when they play or when they have guests. They can spend time on the ground floor while you enjoy your privacy in your bedroom upstairs.
If you want a double-story house, check out this design.
Disadvantages of Two Story Homes
- Building a stairway eats up space. Building a stairway not only uses space but adds to the cost. This will make you adjust your budget a little more.
- Harder maintenance. A two-story home is harder to maintain because there are more levels to be cleaned. Cleaning windows on the upper floors is difficult and can be very dangerous. Maintaining the roof like repainting and patching also requires professional service rather than doing it yourself.
- Stair accidents and evacuation issues. The presence of stairs may be dangerous to children and the elderly especially during blackouts and when there is an emergency. Evacuating is a lot of ore difficult because you need to exit from the stairs. Installing fire exits on the upper floors is an option but this could mean a higher budget. Building an elevator makes moving up more comfortable but you need to shell out thousands of dollars.
- Construction takes longer. A two-story house takes longer to build. The foundation, staircase, ceiling, roof, balcony, or roof deck need more time to finish.
Advantages of Single Story Home
- More living space and open floor plan. Single-story houses have open floor plans making every area accessible. You do not need a staircase and therefore you save the cost from building one.
- Safe for children and the elderly. Without the staircase, there won’t be any challenge for the older people and children to navigate the house. And of course, evacuation is easier in the event of a fire.
- Cheaper and easier maintenance. Cleaning the rooftop and windows can be done by any member of the family except the elderly and children, of course. You don’t need professional service to clean your roof or patch the leakage. You can clean the windows from the ground unlike with upper windows where you need s ladder to go up and clean them. Otherwise, you need professional service.
Check this single-story house design for your inspiration.
Disadvantages of Single Story Home
- More expensive. Because you are building a larger footprint to accommodate all the areas of the house on one level, you will need more foundation and more roofing materials. Heating or cooling also means more energy and higher costs.
- Less privacy. One-floor living means that you are eye-level with the rest of the world passing by. Of course, if you live in the woods that may not be true, but one-story homes in neighborhoods may feel exposed and less private.
- Limited outdoor living space. Most of your lot may have been occupied by the footprint of building your single-story house. This means that you only have a little lot left for your outdoor activities.
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