Pros and cons in building a one-story and two-story house
Starting from a "blank slate" for the construction of a residential building, it is necessary to determine its number of storeys. The choice depends on a number of factors. Some of them are of paramount importance for the construction budget and living comfort, others are less significant and important.
In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of one-story and two-story buildings. Considering our recommendations, you will be able to choose the best option for yourself and you will not regret your decision.
What is the best house to build? Single storey or double storey?
In the discussion about the choice of the number of storeys of the cottage, most of the disputes arise when discussing financial benefits. As a rule, the parties do not have serious arguments based on specific calculations. Let's try to objectively answer the question of which house is better to build.
In favor of one-story buildings, the following arguments are given:
- the height of their walls is less than that of 2-story ones, which means that they will cost less;
- no need to build and insulate the second floor, (savings in material and work);
- there is no urgent need for a second bathroom (saving the construction budget);
- no stairs to the second floor (space saving, safe and convenient for the elderly and children).
The type of foundation and, accordingly, its cost depend on the design and material of the walls and ceilings. Therefore, it cannot be unequivocally stated that it will be cheaper for a one-story building. If a one-story house is log or frame, then it can be placed on an inexpensive columnar or pile foundation. If the walls are made of bricks, then a strip foundation will have to be poured under them. Its deepening depends little on the height of the walls, but is determined by the depth of soil freezing. Therefore, for both a one-story and a two-story cottage, a foundation with a depth of at least 1.3-1.5 meters will be required.
If you have already looked at the projects of one-story houses in the catalog of ready-made architectural solutions of the PARFENON company, then you noticed that almost 90% of one-story houses made of aerated concrete or bricks are designed on tape monolithic foundations or reinforced concrete slabs. Yes, on weak subsidence soils, under one and two-story houses, an expensive slab foundation with a thickness of at least 30 cm has to be poured. So in this case, we will not get savings for a one-story building.
Savings on roof insulation is not as great as it seems. The ceiling between the first floor and the attic in a one-story house must in any case be insulated. This work "eats" almost half of the expected savings.
The average cost of work (with material) for thermal insulation of 1 m2 of a roof (floor) is 400 rubles *. For a 1-storey house with an area of 100 m2, we will get savings:
(gable roof area - 7 m x 10 m x 2 = 140 m2) - floor area 10 m x 10 m = 100 m2) = 140 - 100 = 40 m2 x 400 rubles / m2 = 16,000 rubles. The amount received is incomparably small (less than 1%) compared to the average budget for the construction of such a house (2 million rubles)*.
The cost of arranging a bathroom on the second floor includes the cost of equipment, finishing materials and the price of work. On average, this amount is 50,000 rubles *. It can be written into the savings fund of a 1-storey building. In fairness, we note that with a large building area (200-300 m2) in a one-story building, the presence of a second bathroom will also not be superfluous.
The absence of stairs saves an average of 10 m2 of space. However, with the rational use of the space under it (wardrobe, room for cleaning equipment, etc.), there will be no loss of usable area. The costs of manufacturing and installing stairs (40,000 rubles *) will be included in the "benefit of one-story construction" section.
The advantages of a two-story house include:
- Savings on the roof (both floors under one roof).
- Rational use of heat.
- Compact building (relevant for small areas).
- Convenient division of the layout into two independent zones (day - 1st floor, for rest and sleep - 2nd floor).
- The best appearance and good visibility.
The savings on the construction of the roof is solid. 1 m2 of insulated roofing "pie" with the cost of material and work is at least 1,000 rubles *.
Therefore, for a 2-storey house with a total area of 200 m2, compared to a one-story house of the same area, the savings will be 140 thousand rubles * (2 slopes of 70 m2 x 1,000 rubles / m2).
In a two-story building, the first floor "warms" the second. Therefore, the owners of two-story houses in their reviews claim that the second level is always warmer and drier than the first. In a one-story cottage, heat escapes uselessly through the roof.
Space saving. Projects of two-story houses most often with an equivalent total area of \u200b\u200bthe house have a much smaller building spot. For plots less than 3 acres, building a 2-storey house is the best option. In this case, the owner has enough space for entry, a recreation area, an outbuilding and a small front garden. For a spacious plot, saving a few hundred "squares" is not so important.
The point about the layout does not cause much controversy. On the second floor, the owners equip the sleeping quarters. Separated from the active living area, they are ideal for daytime relaxation and nighttime sleep.
The appearance of a "two-story building" outperforms a one-story building, providing ample opportunities for architectural decoration (pilasters, columns, vaults, etc.). In addition, on the second level, it is possible to equip an open terrace or loggia at minimal cost.
conclusions
Summing up our reasoning and calculations, we will draw several important conclusions:
- In construction, a two-story house is slightly cheaper than a one-story house. The cost of funds for the second bathroom and the stairs here is lower than the savings obtained due to the smaller roof area.
- On a small plot, it is more profitable to build a house with two floors.
- If the cottage area does not exceed 100 m2, then the one-story option is preferable (in terms of the convenience of the internal layout).