Two Stories or One?

Maintenance, emergency evacuation, heating and cooling and many more factors are different.  The aesthetics of a two story home are obvious. Vertical structures are psychologically and visually more interesting for humans, which is also one of the reasons why we like high ceilings. Single story homes are safer, easier to maintain, and less expensive to heat and cool. Here is a great list of pros and cons for you to consider.

Two Stories.

+ Developers can put more square footage on a smaller lot. City planners set up zoning regulations which dictate the maximum height of a home, required yards, lot coverage and the number of parking spaces required in different kinds of neighborhoods. Regulations change with land use, which is why we see so many newly constructed two-story homes in traditionally single-story neighborhoods, like California Country Club Estates.

+ A second story is inherently more private. We design homes with the most public areas located near from the main entrance and the private areas located far from the main entrance. This is why most primary bedrooms are in the back of the house. 

+ Security. If you absentmindedly leave a second story window open or a second story patio door ajar, you’re friendly neighborhood thief is less likely to get in (and out with the goodies). 

+ Views. We love a good view of downtown or the Hollywood Sign. A first floor is rarely going to give you that, but a second floor window or outdoor space might if you’re in the right spot. Cheviot Hills is one of those locations.

- With stairs come accidents. Toddlers, disabled people, and those of us with older knees can have trouble navigating a long staircase. Lifts and elevators are expensive, so adapting a two story home can be a bit cumbersome.

- Heating and cooling is more expensive. It’s hard to fight with rising hot air and sinking cool air. We’ve seen many homes with zoned HVAC systems to combat this; the system upstairs is set a little cooler than the one downstairs and vice versa. Two systems means more fuel and maintenance. 

- If your two-story home isn’t designed or insulated well, you can experience higher noise levels.  Kids running in hallways, teens and music, dogs barking, parties downstairs while you’re trying to meditate…you might experience some “Where are my earplugs?” moments. 

One Story.

+ Maintenance is easy. Gutter-cleaning and power- and window washing is a cinch. No giant ladders, no scaffolding required.

+ Design and re-design are pretty simple. Structural needs are much easier to deal with for architects and builders and if you have a crawl space, it’s easy to move utilities without opening up walls and ceilings.

+ No stairs means fewer falls. Single story homes are physically easier to navigate.

+ Since they are easier to navigate, single-story homes are easier to evacuate in an emergency. Be sure you have a plan in place for fire, earthquake, and other potential problems that Mother Nature can bring on.

- Expansion can be harder and more expensive. If you’re already at your lot coverage limit, you’ll have to go up, and most single-story homes are not structurally designed to add a second floor. 

- With only a first floor, you’re going to have less privacy. Draw the shades when the gardener shows up early or if you need to change in the middle of a multi-kid play party.

So why do we call them stories, anyway?

At the time when the usage came to be circa 1400 or 1500's, the general population was illiterate. Some religious began to draw biblical stories on the side of their homes. Many of them had structures with more than 2 floors, creating more than a single 'story'. When asked where they lived, they said the building with the stories. His room was on the second or third 'story'. I found that explanation easier to comprehend than the others. A picture is worth more than a thousand words, as it were.