Two story homes can bring a multitude of advantages, not least that they give you a lot more space for your money, especially if land is expensive where you plan to build. But they aren’t for everyone.
If you’re planning to have your home built for you by a professional construction company in your locality, or wish to extend your single-story home upward, you can sit down and talk with their architect and project manager about whether you should opt to build up, or out, or both!
But in the meantime, to help you decide whether your home should have two story’s or one, here is a short list of the pros and cons:
With a two-story home you can:
Get more vertical space and a smaller footprint – with space at a premium in many major cities, not least New York City, by building up instead of out, you can save thousands of dollars on the cost of land.
Have a much better view – elevated views are major selling points for homes, and with a two-story home you can take advantage of that fact for yourself (and even have balconies to give you more outside space), or use it to help you sell your home quicker, and for more.
Keep bedrooms separate from living spaces – for many families, having a clear distinction between the living and sleeping place, is a major plus, and with a two-story home, you can achieve this with ease.
Have staircases – staircases can be true design features in a home, and can help make a home look larger and more inviting. It’s also handy to have that naughty step for errant kids!
With a two-story home you cannot:
Get upstairs if you encounter any mobility issues – if you’re thinking about your home in terms of it being a forever home, then at some point stairs may not be a welcome addition. They can also be a safety concern if you have elderly relatives or very young children living with you.
Make a lot of noise –with a home that’s spread out more on a ground floor, sounds can be easier to muffle or hide, but with a two-story home, this is almost impossible to achieve.
Clean it so easily – A two-story home can be a nightmare to clean, and because they usually cover more square footage than a one-story home, it means that there’s a lot more space to clean, too.
Save money on energy bills – two-story homes usually require more HVAC systems than a single-story property, which means that inevitably, your energy bills are going to be higher.
As you can see from the list of pros and cons above, there are some distinct advantages and clear disadvantages to building upwards on your home, and ultimately, a lot may come down to your personal preference or budget. However, if you’re running out of space in your home, and decide you don’t want to build a second story addition, there may be the possibility of building outwards, and an experienced construction company will be able to talk you through your options after assessing your home.
At the end of the day, if you want to add on to your home, there’s usually a way!