Single Story or Multi Story

One story all the way. I have lived in both and really like 1 story homes with split floor plans. At one point we had a 2 story with the master downstairs and realized we never went upstairs unless we had to. I can’t even imagine the fun of having kids if the master was down and the kid’s rooms were upstairs. Toting laundry up and down the stairs forget it.

The stairs aren’t really as big of a deal for the kids as some would think. Mine started walking while we were in this house. We put a gate at the bottom and top of the stairs for the first 1 ½ years and now he goes up and down without problem. You don’t think much of it in a one story because everything seems more convenient. Washing linens, kid’s clothes, dragging the vacuum up and down, amongst many other things all adds up when you’re in a 2 story.

Everything spec-tater said, plus:

Dallas gets HOT in the summertime, no? Two-story houses can be very expensive to keep cooled, especially the upper story where the bedrooms are; heat rises! Two-stories often also have cathedral-style ceilings in the living room, which just creates more cubic feet of air you have to cool. I'd prefer a ranch-style single story house; well-designed ones often have the master suite at one end of the house and the kids' rooms at the other end, for privacy.

Thanks guys. The only reason why I was thinking of 2 story ins privacy.  I think privacy means different things to different families. I understand one point that if the master suite and kids room are far from each other and it should give me good privacy. 

I was initially thinking that if I and wife stay in the first story and we never have to go upstairs because the Master BR is downstairs, we would just not turn on the AC unit in the second story. However, once I get kids and my in-laws come visit us, I would definitely have to turn on the 2nd story AC.. At that point, my utility bill would go nuts..

 

I was searching for 2 Story houses for about a month, so I dont know at this point, how many 1 story are on sale. Let me check around..

 

Thanks once again for some good ideas.

I dont know if overall purchase budget is tight for you  but I can say  you can usually get more bang for your buck on a 2 story than a one story because 2 stories are cheaper to build.  If my options were a 5 bed 3.5 bath 3500 sq ft 2 story with a huge play room upstairs  or a 4 bed 2.5 bath 2200 sq ft one story for the same price in the same area  that I would take the 2 story without question.  If the homes are roughly compairable  in size/ features.... take the one story.

bump

Do they build on basements in Dallas?  if so, then you could have the "one main level living" thing and finish out a room in the basement for guests / kids playroom.   If your lot is large enough, you could also build a tiny guest / playroom cottage...

 

I've lived in 2 story plus basement, and in ranches - personally, I really prefer the ranch (one story) for all the reasons listed in the posts above. 

2+ story!  1 story houses are sooo boring *yawn*

I am a displaced Northerner living in Florida. I grew up in multistory homes and have been in one-story houses ever since moving. For my next house I definitely want a two story. Just never have gotten used to sleeping on the first floor. But again, it's a matter of what I grew up with.

We sold a one-story-ish (the "ish" is that there was a staircase and one bedroom and attic upstairs) but the main house was all on one.  We have 4 kids (9, 7, 3 and 1 1/2) and just bought a 2-story.  The MBR is up as are all the BRs.  We prefer it.  Hubby and I hang out downstairs and do not have to worry about noise bothering sleeping kids.  That was an issue in our old house.  We're in the NE, so I can't comment on cooling issues.  GL!

 

Oh, and the kids have no issues w/ the stairs.  Also, laundry is on the main floor, but a few we looked at had it upstairs, that was nice!

Basic physics is that heat build up is related to surface area and especially roof area.  A single story routinely has higher heating and cooling bills to a 2 story of equivalent construction and square footage (assuming a relatively boxy shape).   A two story will have warmer upstairs than down, as heat rises, but not overall higher costs.

 

I prefer 2 story for noise of other family members as well as entertaining (one can have one floor a mess if one choses).     Plus, the stairs are good for keep the quads in good shape.

Wetdawgs, a couple of good shade trees near the house will reduce the heat absorbed by the roof... and it takes less time for shade tree to grow tall enough to shade a one-story than a two-story. And I still maintain that you want to be sleeping in the coolest part of the house, not the hottest (which in a two-story is always upstairs).

And surface area isn't just the roof -- siding takes a sun-beating in late afternoons. Again, two-story loses here... big tall slabs of south-facing wall (and even worse, WINDOWS) absorb more heat than shorter, longer one-story walls that can be half-shaded or more with shrubbery.

I've lived in southern California my whole life, in both one- and two-story houses. Electric bills have always been more painful in the two-story houses.

I have a 2 sty now and sometimes wish that I had gotten a 1 sty.  Cooling in the summer is an issue and convenience when children come along.

 

But, I like the privacy and space that a 2sty provides.  Hubby can be in the living room with the tv almost full blast and I won't hear a thing if i'm in the upstairs bedroom.  I don't think that would be possible in a 1sty.

I like 2 or three stories with full attic and full basement.  There are numerous reasons; one is the health aspect of using the stairs 2 to 4 times a day.  Another is view.  Another is efficiency of less exterior surface area.  Another is storage.  Another is extra yard space for same floor area ratio.

 

The disadvantage is if one's health fails to the point of not being able to use the stairs.  May want to plan for a future elevator and entry ramps.  Or, if the stairs are wide enough, a stair chair lift.

 

If large enough family; the one(s) with stairway difficulties may be able to just use the ground level floor.

 

Really when it comes right down to it; it still is a matter of preference.  But did you think; a 2nd story can be warmer in winter without heating, and a first floor can be cooler in summer without cooling?

 

There are lots of other factors to consider as well.  Don't just make a decission based on someone else's experience.

 

Is land (that is, not including what's built on it) expensive in Dallas?  Single-story houses seem like a huge waste of land.  I've only ever lived in two- and three-story houses and can't imagine why people wouldn't want to get as much floor space out of their houses as they can.  More privacy, less noise, and a house just feels bigger when there are multiple floors.

 

I wouldn't want to sleep on a first floor -- too many bugs sneaking in when you open the window!  But if you do sleep on the first floor, just keep that room cool and let the hot air float up to the rooms that you don't use as often. 

I prefer two story homes myself, for a much better land utilization. But there are definitely drawbacks. The upstairs rooms tend to become uncomfortably hot during summer. If you have older folks in your family, running up and down all day long can be challenging for them. There could be safety issues if you have young kids. But all said, I still much prefer two story homes.