Single Storey vs Double Storey Homes

Australians have traditionally opted more for single-storey homes. In recent years, this has changed as more families than before opt for constructing double-storey homes instead.

Although the single-storey is the choice of the majority, the proportion has changed. What is the best plan for your family, though? There are lots of factors that impact the number of storey you should opt for.

The decision to go with either single or double-storey homes is one that will have a major impact on you and your family’s lifestyle for decades.

To make that decision easier, we’ve laid out the pros and cons of both approaches in this article.

Factors to consider when choosing between single and double-storey homes:

1. Budget: Double-storey homes are more expensive to build, as there is an additional storey being built. In Australia, blocks of land available to new homeowners are smaller than before.

This means single-storey homes have less space than they used to. In case this is your first home and you have a growing family, the higher cost may be worth it.

As upgrades or future construction are easier to execute in double-storey construction, you will save a ton when you eventually expand or commit to a partial rebuild of the structure.

2. Energy costs: Heating and cooling bills will be on the lower end for single-storey homes, as only the level needs to be fitted out.

With double-storey homes, another section needs to be installed, and you may even need to install separate sections for the different floors.

3. Space utilization: Single-storey homes are more efficient in terms of functionality. As everything is on the same level, there is a flow to the layout. As there is no staircase, all the space is used to the full extent.

You can have higher ceilings, adding more natural light and openness to the living area. However, if most homes in the surrounding area have two levels, your home may miss out on some sunlight exposure as you would be overshadowed.

On the other hand, double-storey homes have more garden space, as less of the plot area is needed for construction. That means both a bigger lawn and backyard. This not only makes your house more sustainable but also makes its appearance more stately.

Double-storey homes can increase the number of rooms you can build. That means you can have an extra study, or a game room for the kids.

At the same time, everyone can have their own space and privacy with rooms on the upper floor. For family time, the downstairs can focus on providing more living space and open-plan kitchen.

Bigger backyards also mean more space for your kids or any pets to run around and play in.

4. Maintenance: This point has a few different aspects. Double-storeys have less roof space and consequently, less effort is needed in cleanup tasks.

Single-storey options, on the other hand, will need more effort on the roof or the walls but are easier to clean inside the house as there is one less level to deal with.

5. Current life stage: This is simple enough: toddlers and staircases are not the greatest combinations. If you have a young family, single-story offers more safety.

With young children, most parents would prefer rooms that are close by, due to the need for frequent attention. It also makes it easier to have more precious cuddle time and to put them to bed.

Multi-generational living is popular than ever in Australia for a variety of reasons. This is a multi-faceted decisions as you might end up needing to spend extra on providing wheelchair access, apart from the obvious safety concerns.

Double-storey homes are most suited for families with slightly grown-up children, as the stairs are less likely to be a safety hazard.

You can then decide to have the master bedroom on either the top or bottom floor. This leaves the other for your tween/teens, giving everyone in the house a lot of personal space.

Ultimately, you not only have to think about your current family situation, but also how things might look in the future.

6. Street Level Noise: Single-storey homes are inevitably more exposed to the street level and the resulting noise.

Double-storeys help with this, as there is more separation due to the bigger front lawn and backyard space, in addition to the extra level. A lot, however, depends on how busy the area actually is.

7. Resale potential: In case your interest in the property is investment based, double-storey homes are a better option as they generally have higher resale value.

In case other homes in the area are double-storeys, you may want to do the same to maximize selling potential. You will also be able to catch a better view (depending on the geography and natural beauty in the area), adding more value.

The final decision also depends most importantly on your vision of your dream house. Is it a sprawling Australian classic, or modern open-plan living?

The answer is unique for every family. We hope we’ve helped make it a little easier for you.

Mutli-Storey Homes in Canberra and NSW

At ABM , we love to tailor each offer to your needs and wants.

All our plans are customizable for both single and double-storey homes, including our Display Homes and House and Land packages, located across the best suburbs in Canberra and NSW.

We offer our services all over the ACT. To learn more about how you can extract the most out of your budget and live in functional luxury, get in touch with one of our experts today.

For more information, you can call us or email us. We’ll be with you ASAP!