One Storey vs Two Storey House: Which Is Best for You?

Many Australians who want to build their dream home face a dilemma: choosing a double storey or single storey house. Both alternatives have their advantages and disadvantages, with expenses, energy efficiency, and personal preferences playing significant roles. As a highly experienced Brisbane luxury home builder with extensive industry knowledge and expertise, we strongly recommend weighing these factors carefully before deciding.

This blog will compare the factors of a one storey vs two storey house and explain each option’s pros and cons to help homeowners make a sound, long-term decision.

Comparing Prices: One Storey Vs. Two Storey House

Budget and long-term savings are critical in deciding between a one- or two-storey house. Here are several budget considerations worth considering:

• Initial costs: The upfront expenses of one- and two-storey houses are similar because they need foundations, walls, roofs, and other structural elements. However, the latter requires less material and labour.
• Long-term maintenance expenses: Simple designs for one-storey houses result in fewer roof and gutter maintenance issues. On the other hand, their two-storey counterparts may require regular wear and tear maintenance and labour costs.
• Resale value: Savvy Australian homeowners consider their long-term future before building a new house. We recommend considering your house’s resale value because it may become investment property and potential profit in retirement. Your home’s resale value depends on your local market and area. We recommend that clients ask a reputable real estate professional for advice before building their custom designed homes Brisbane.

Energy Efficiency: Comparing The Two Options

Energy efficiency is an essential consideration for practical homeowners. Understanding the energy requirements of one- and two-storey houses offer a sense of security and responsibility.

Many Australian homes use considerable energy for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. If you’re considering a two-storey house, please remember that warm air tends to rise in these structures, resulting in inconsistent indoor temperatures.

Consequently, two-storey homes may require several HVAC systems to ensure maximum comfort. Because of their orientation, one-storey residences enjoy consistent and even temperatures.

Two-storey houses are a double-edged sword in terms of insulation and air leakage. They may lose or gain heat depending on how their wall surfaces cope with harsh climates.

Construction, insulation, and HVAC quality are critical in energy consumption and long-term savings. Regardless of your aesthetic preferences, please ensure your contractor correctly insulates and seals off air leaks to conserve energy. A reputable service provider can help you design and build an energy-efficient dream home.

Consider Your Lifestyle And Unique Preferences

At Unique Built, we understand that each Australian home is unique and reflects the client’s lifestyle and preferences. We encourage homeowners to consider these factors when choosing a double storey or single storey house:

• Accessibility and mobility: We recommend that clients with mobility issues or those who want to settle in a permanent location until old age consider a one-storey house. Stairs may compromise the safety of children and senior citizens. Living in a one-storey house offers these clients valuable peace of mind and comfort.
• Family size: At first glance, a two-storey structure may seem to perfectly accommodate the needs of a large and growing family. However, expanding upward is challenging for two-storey homeowners because the foundation may not be resilient enough to withstand additional floors. Reinforcing the foundation and framework significantly increases costs and time investment. A one-storey house is better for growing families because expanding outward doesn’t require major foundational adjustments.
• Noise tolerance and privacy: Noise levels and privacy are important considerations when deciding between a one- or two-storey house. The former has less noise transfer because it has no additional floors.
• On the other hand, two-storey residences provide significant separation between living and sleeping rooms, enhancing homeowner privacy.
• Long-term plans: Please consider your long-term objectives before making a decision. Do you plan to settle permanently in your area, or will you increase the value of your home and relocate? Thinking long-term helps keep things in perspective and make decisions aligned with your future aspirations.

One-Storey Home Advantages

Living in a one-storey residence has the following benefits:

• Easy mobility: One-storey houses are ideal for individuals with disabilities, ageing parents, or young children. The absence of stairs, a possible safety hazard, provides comfort and reassurance.
• Straightforward maintenance: Homeowners disinfect, do the laundry, sweep, and vacuum on one floor. Living in a two-storey house doubles their workload.
  One-storey residential structures also have simpler roof structures that require less maintenance.
• Safer emergency evacuation: To ensure the safety of residents, emergencies such as fires and earthquakes require easy evacuation. One-storey houses provide that opportunity because of their orientation. It may be more challenging to evacuate a two-storey abode, especially if the inhabitants sleep upstairs. Either way, we strongly recommend that homeowners design an effective fire plan, which could include installing fire escape ladders or creating clear pathways to the nearest exits.
• Expansion possibilities: Homeowners can expand their one-storey residence without compromising its structural integrity. Some promising side extension possibilities include the following:
  • Contemporary glass box extension.
  • Classic brick extension.
  • Expansive kitchen-dinner area.
  • Home office, study room, or home library.
  • Rustic timber extension.
  • Industrial-style extension.
• Please understand that expanding your one-storey house may be expensive. We recommend drafting a floor plan with an extra room to get great value for money.

One-Storey Home Disadvantages

Here are the drawbacks of living in a one-storey residence:

• Minimal design alternatives: One-storey houses have restricted design options because of their single-floor orientation. Constructing additional bathrooms, lofts, and balconies is a daunting possibility.
• Larger footprint: Many one-storey residences have enormous footprints that require more land area and steeper construction expenses. A one-floor house’s tendency to consume available land significantly reduces the possibility of building outdoor living spaces, including patios, decks, kitchens, gazebos, firepits, or gardens.
• Limited privacy: One-storey homes offer less privacy than their two-storey counterparts because the former features living areas on the same floor: larger families or those who prefer a more significant distinction between living and sleeping spaces.

Two-Storey Home Advantages

Here are the benefits of two-storey homes:

• Adaptability: Two-storey houses’ enormous vertical spaces can accommodate additional living areas such as bedrooms and bathrooms while retaining a smaller footprint. Homeowners can landscape and install patios, fire pits, or gazebos to enhance outdoor living.
• Possible cost savings: Although one- and two-storey homes’ upfront costs are similar, the latter’s smaller footprint reduces its foundational and roofing expenses. Two-storey residences also have lower labour and material costs than their one-storey counterparts.
• Resale value: Two-storey residences’ higher square footage makes them more appealing to buyers and significantly increases their resale value.
• Increased privacy: Homes with two stories enhance private and common area separation, increasing privacy for homeowners who crave downtime and solitude.

Two-Storey Home Disadvantages

Here are the drawbacks of two-story homes:

• Higher risk of accidents: Stairs are a potential safety hazard for senior citizens and young children, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. We recommend building a one-storey house if you live with ageing parents and infants or toddlers.
• Steep maintenance costs: Houses with two storeys may require frequent exterior maintenance, including painting or gutter cleaning because they are exposed to harsh climates.
• Energy efficiency issues: A major downside of two-storey houses is the tendency of heat to rise and settle on the second floor, resulting in imbalanced indoor temperatures. Consequently, heating and cooling bills become more expensive.
• Noisy interior: Homeowners must deal with enhanced noise transfer between floors, possibly compromising privacy.
• Cleaning requirements: A second floor doubles homeowners’ cleaning requirements. More rooms, windows, and a staircase means more sanitising, disinfecting, vacuuming, and sweeping.

We Can Help Design And Build Your Dream Home

Choosing between a double storey or single storey house entails considering your budget, lifestyle, and unique preferences.

We strongly recommend considering long-term factors such as living conditions and resale value before making a sound decision. Research online and ask family members, friends, and a reputable builder for advice.

Since 1996, Unique Built has helped numerous clients design and build single- and double-storey houses in Australia. Our extensive industry track record will help you achieve your dream home.

Get in touch to discuss your unique, long-term objectives. Our dedicated staff members will answer enquiries, offer a unique perspective, and help start your home building journey.