It’s a common issue for homebuyers; should you buy a single-story home, or a home with multiple levels? The traditional American home layout often includes shared spaces on the ground floor and more private areas, such as bedrooms and offices on upper stories. While each style offers its own benefits, here are some reasons why a single-story home plan might be the perfect fit for your family.
Perfect for Every Age
Many seniors rely on walkers or wheelchair for mobility, so stairs may be too daunting for them to take on. For these individuals, ascending and descending stairs is at best a struggle, and at worst a huge obstacle. Single story homes are ideal for aging in place because they allow freedom of movement at any age. Seniors aren’t the only ones for whom stairs can be a challenge. Young children do better in a single-story design and you will have peace of mind knowing your children won’t fall down the stairs.
Maintenance is generally easier with a single-story floor plan. Even if you don’t mind climbing stairs, you’ll find it difficult to maintain the interior of the upper stories. With a single-story home plan, you’ll be able to access all areas of your home with ease.
Energy Efficiency
It’s easier to heat and cool a single-story home. Most modern single-story house plans feature a central shared living area, surrounded by more private rooms, such as dining rooms and bedrooms. Heated and cool air naturally flows through this type of design. In contrast, multiple story homes require more complex and costly HVAC systems.
Open Floor Plans
Single-story floor plans tend to include a generous communal area, sometimes called the “Family Triangle” composed of the living room, dining room, and kitchen. Older homes box each of these rooms off with walls; compared to modern home plans that are designed to merge these three areas into one large, open space. Vaulted ceilings and expansive windows are often prioritized with ranch-style homes, so as to create a comfortable and beautiful area where the whole family will want to gather.
The architectural challenge of keeping everything on one floor prompts homebuilders to get creative with open floor plans in single-story models.
Affordability
Oftentimes, single-story home plans are less costly to build and maintain than a multiple-story home. It’s more cost-effective to build flat. More cost-cutting benefits include:
- Fewer materials
- Lower labor costs
- Fewer maintenance costs
- Lower taxes
- Reduced furniture costs
You can easily expand your one-story living to the outdoors with a large deck, sunroom, or patio. Many of today’s ranch house plans are designed with complete outdoor living spaces, including an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, and pool and spa area.
Because single-story homes don’t have staircases, they are a great design for first-time homebuyers with small children or retirees who don’t want to maintain such a large home.
Today’s new home designs are packed with the latest amenities and designed to utilize all available space to create a gorgeous, yet functional home that you’ll enjoy spending time in for years to come.
For more information on single-story homes and custom home designs, call Frey & Son Homes at (239) 495-8200 or visit https://www.freyandson.com/
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