One-Story vs. Two-Story House - Prime1 Builders (2024)

FAQs

One-Story vs. Two-Story House - Prime1 Builders? ›

A single-story home is more cost-effective to design, but it will cost more to build than a two-story home. To make things more complicated, they'll likely cost less to heat and cool over the years. Crunch the numbers and choose the home design that fits your budget.

One-story homes typically have fewer issues with roof and gutter maintenance due to their simpler design, while two-story homes may require more frequent maintenance due to increased wear and tear. Resale value and market demand can also play a role in determining which home type is a better financial investment.

The roof is responsible for a lot of heat transfer and when your roof is smaller, as it usually is in a two-story home you have less of this transfer. This allows you to save more energy than you would in a one-story home.

Is it Cheaper to Build a 1 1/2 Story House? Surprisingly, a 1.5-story home can cost more than either a one- or two-story house. Just like a one-story home, a 1.5 story house needs a generously sized foundation. Although the first floor is large, the second floor isn't quite as spacious.

Drawbacks of a two-story house:

The stairwell takes up square footage that can't be used for much else, and you may have to drag things like laundry or the vacuum cleaner up and down the stairs.

In a single-story home, all of the bedrooms and living spaces will be on the same floor. This doesn't offer the same level of privacy as two-story plans that can place bedrooms upstairs and even separate the master bedroom and kids' rooms.

Our customers often ask us this question, so we decided to do an quick analysis on floor plan cost to build based on the number of floors. We analyzed our library of one-story and two-story plans to compare costs and found that two story plans are 14% more affordable to build per square foot on average).

When it comes to the most efficient building shape, uncomplicated dome and cube structures retain the most heat. This is because the air can circulate more efficiently around a dome whilst a cube has the smallest surface area to floor area ratio, so it loses minimal amounts of heat.

When you turn on your AC, pressure changes throughout the home, drawing hot air from the attic into the highest floor of the home, warming the upstairs and causing the air conditioner to work that much harder, often resulting in the upstairs living area never reaching the thermostat setting.

There's a positive aspect for those investing in single-story homes – their resale value. While the upfront expenses can be higher, the appreciation of single-story properties often outpaces their multi-story counterparts. You will have long-term investment and potential returns by building a single-story home.

What is the most expensive part of building your own home? ›

Perhaps the most expensive part when it comes to building a home is the framing, which consists of wooden beams that make up the home's skeleton.

Since two-story homes have a smaller footprint, they're usually more cost-effective to build, and there are many more design options to choose from. With more space on different floors, you'll have more privacy in a two-story home, and this makes it easier to host guests from out of town.

If your home's energy efficiency is a concern, you may want to consider a two-story house. For the most part, a typical two-story home uses less energy than a one-story home of equal square footage. This is thanks in part to smaller foundation and roof space.

On the flip side, two-story homes provide more living space, greater design flexibility, and the potential for higher investment returns. Yet, they might face lower demand from families with young children, come with increased maintenance costs, and could take longer to find tenants or buyers.

Multi-story homes often provide better views of desirable neighborhood aspects, such as beautiful mountain or waterfront scenery. Two story homes also provide greater security and privacy. Because bedrooms are often on upper floors, they are more difficult to access by burglars and others with malevolent intent.

Is it cheaper to add a second story or build out? Second stories typically cost less than building out, but this depends on the scope of the design. However, you may still have to fortify your foundation when building a second story, so be sure to speak with a structural engineer before clarifying your budget.

Double-story homes are generally more expensive to build, but they maximize space and can provide better views and increased resale value. Ultimately, the best choice will depend on your specific needs and budget. It's important to consider all the factors and make an informed decision that works best for you.

According to the 2021 report from the U.S. Census Bureau, the average time to build a single-family home is between seven and 12 months, but we can help you estimate how long your unique home-building project will take based on the factors below.