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Single-storey vs double-story, a topic that can spark a conversation between almost anyone (in the building industry at least). Building a two-storey house is a great way to increase the space you need without giving up your land, style, or comfort. Although, not everyone loves the idea of a two-storey house as it doesn’t suit their lifestyle or mobility needs. There are pros and cons to everything, but in this article, we will outline the pros and cons of building a two-storey house which can help you in making a final decision.
This is the number one reason why people opt to building a two storey house. It gives you the ability to optimise the space you already have while staying on the same block and suburb you live in. By building upwards, you will be able to introduce additional living spaces to your home even if you’re sitting on a small block of land. Not only will this maximise your living spaces but can also create more space for your backyard or entertaining area outside. By building an extension up top, you will also be able to get additional square spacing in your home, regardless of the block size which will increase your home’s value.
Another advantage to building 2-storey homes is the added rooms for more privacy. This can create privacy for people within the house not so much from your neighbours. If you have older children or frequently have guests over, it can provide them with their own space by creating separate rooms for the house along with separate living rooms and guest ensuite or another bathroom. More spaced-out rooms throughout a two-storey home can also assist with less noise, which is a great advantage in today’s day and age where many people are working from home.
Seems obvious if you’re building upwards, right? Wherever your house is located, you will receive some sort of an elevated view advantage. Whether you’re located amongst the hills, beach or within the beautiful city of Melbourne, chances are you’re going to have better views than being in a one-storey home.
Having the additional height and possibly the option of a balcony, you’ll be able to enjoy views that are not obstructed by trees or neighbouring homes. By having additional windows on the second level of your home it can allow for increased natural light into your rooms which is a great way to reduce your electricity bills in the summer months.
There are always going to be disadvantages of building a 2-storey house. One of them being more maintenance and cleaning involved. Of course, if the home is bigger, there will be double the cleaning to maintain it. From floors and windows to staircases and additional rooms, if you are wanting to minimise the maintenance of your home then a two-storey home might not be for you.
While building a 2-storey home can look great and serve many advantages, there is a main con that is related to safety, especially for young children around and elderly people who have mobility issues. There are always solutions around this that can help but having a two-storey home can prove difficult in these scenarios.
A disadvantage of building a 2-storey house is that the climate control can be more difficult to manage since you have more space you need to heat and cool.
One thing to note would be to get heating and cooling systems installed while you build. The reason being is that it can be more difficult to set this up after the build. Heating and cooling a two-storey home can be more expensive compared to a single-storey home. Not only does this contribute to the running costs, but also the additional supplies including extra controllers, more vents, etc.
In saying that, today we’re lucky to have intelligent solar panel systems that can save you on energy costs down the track, more so now than years gone by.
So here it is, your list of pros and cons when you’re considering building a two-storey home. As you go about your new home project, keep these pros and cons in mind as a guide. When deciding whether to build a single or double storey house, it’s important to see if it fits your budget and lifestyle. For some people, the additional space and privacy is worth the increased maintenance and other associated costs. But for others, a one-storey home makes more sense. In the end, it’s up to you to decide what’s best for your needs.
Whether you’re looking to start from scratch, have ideas in mind or have initial plans – Yorcon is here to assist you. Our 20+ years of dedicated service and commitment as your local home builders will equip you with the process of building luxury double storey homes.
Contact us today to start building the home you have always envisioned.