Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Single story versus double story.. 21Mar 03, 2009 4:51 pm Given that the builders are in a race to the bottom in terms of price (and hence quality), I'd want a very high quality builder for a two-storey, especially with upstairs bathrooms. So many of them leak after a few years.
One quality custom builder I spoke said the cost price of his waterproofing (lifetime warranty) is thousands more than the system used by all the bulk builders - but it never leaks. Re: Single story versus double story.. 22Mar 03, 2009 5:50 pm Quote: In our old house I was able to shut off the kids rooms, bathroom and toilet, great for when I am up but they are asleep as it came off the family room. I think you have this too don't you Helyn? Yes, I have lounge and main bedroom at front either side of a hallway then a large open space kitchen/dining/family in the middle with sliding doors to side, behind that is minor bedrooms, bathroom, toilet, laundry, there is a door on family room to shut off area behind it. Son's room and laundry are both rectangular shapes with end walls backing onto each other, however his bedhead is at the far end of the room and washing machine at opposite end of laundry,almost 8 m apart also there is a BIR his side and a broom cupboard the laundry side - so sound is well muffled - anyway it takes an earthquake to wake him up !! His room faces east and he complains about the morning sun wakeing him up - poor diddums, we have lots of sympathy when he staggers out at 11:00 on a Saturday morning saying this ![]() (sorry for hijack, that really had nothing to do with the topic ![]() Re: Single story versus double story.. 23Mar 28, 2009 8:46 pm after staying in single storey house and then a double storey house, I will probably refrain from the latter unless it is due to space, neighbour reason(surrounded by double storey houses for privacy reason). It is a chore to go up and down(but a good exercise ![]() There seemed to be also an imaginary sense of seperation when some of the family members are upstairs and some downstairs. Especially when you have children whose rooms are upstairs while yours is downstairs. Re: Single story versus double story.. 25Mar 29, 2009 8:49 pm After living in a 2storey rental for six months with two young uns...I'd never do it again.. Although we get a nice breeze through our bedroom (eastern side), our kid's rooms face west, and with no eaves and a black roof - go figure! ![]() I do like the fact that most of the 'mess' is upstairs..but my kids won't play upstairs unless I am there with them! So looking forward to my single storey house with the rumpus off the kitchen area!! So they can still see me but not be underfoot! ![]() And as another poster said, it does seem to create a sense of separation when one is upstairs and others downstairs... Might be a good thing for those with teenagers!!? ![]() Re: Single story versus double story.. 26Mar 29, 2009 8:58 pm We are lucky enough to have massive land so are having a single storey home. But we are renting a two storey at present. I hate lugging the vacuum upstairs and downstairs. Hate actually vacuuming the stairs - they are awkward and a pain in the proverbial. Our kids are only toddlers and when we moved in the youngest was only 15mths old. I had panic attacks everytime he went up or down the stairs for the first 6mths. I myself have fallen twice down the stairs - and let me tell you it hurt a lot. The first time was with DS in my arms. Talk about scary. Lugging the washing up and down is a pain as well. American two storey homes often have the laundry on the second floor (then again they also tend to use a clothes drier every time, no hanging out the washing over there!!) and let me tell you it sometimes seems like a good idea. Hate not being able to see what the kidlets are up to when they are upstairs - well imagine what it would be like when they are teenagers ![]() The first time we had a bath we had a lovely surprise when we came downstairs. The dining area was completely flooded as some nuffy plumber didn't seal up the pipes correctly. So unless you really have absolutely no choice but to build a two storey I would build single every time. Some things are worth waiting for. Re: 27Mar 29, 2009 10:01 pm ![]() - Structural modifications upstairs are limited to the pillars/structures below So true! Structural beams are sooo sooo expensive ![]() And also scaffolding is needed for bricklaying, roof, rendering and this costs thousandssss $$$ Re: Single story versus double story.. 28Mar 29, 2009 10:04 pm ![]() Depending on where you are building you need to make sure you spend serious money on cooling in a double storey house as all the bedrooms are upstairs where the heat is. Hopefully this also means that the bedrooms will be warmer in winter ![]() In general, a member continuous span means it’s continuous (one whole piece of timber/steel or any material) over at least three supports (two spans). Single span means… 1 8745 just get it quoted by your window supplier. The frame opening is the same so it makes no difference in design stage. The savings on glass means more framing and labour.… 1 11718 We are building over a main (100mm, 2m deep and concrete encased) - unfortunately in our case the SM was a late find post settlement (grrr) We have a DA and just… 2 21795 |