What are the some advantage and disavantage of a two-story house?

Question

What are the some advantage and disavantage of a two-story house?

Answer 1

I would say an advantage is more space and a disavantage is stairs especially if you have bad knees, handicap, older, or just plain lazy!

Answer 2

Advantages:  A two story insultates from noise much better--you can change levels and get peace and quiet.  It often has a more impressive first impression--size wise.

Disadvantages:  Stairs, stairs, stairs!  A danger for kids, a pain for the knees of the old or people with new babies.  Even with multiple or zone air units the temperature is never constant between the levels.  Much more work for cleaning and for putting away laundry.  Sadly, if you want a house of any size they are a necessary evil.

Answer 3

ghosts and more ghosts

Answer 4

My first home was a two story. One thing we did not like was those stairs. It always seemed like we always forgot something on the first floor. Having to go up and down got old.  We also found that second floor was allot hotter than the first.

As for advantage?  We learned that we would never buy a 2 story home again.

My current home now is a single story.

Answer 5

A 2-story house is usually less expensive on a "per square foot" basis because there is only one roof and only one foundation.

For anyone over 50, a two-story is a bad idea.  If a person can't climb stairs, they may have to move unexpectedly.

Answer 6

Two story houses can be more compact since some of the floor space comes from the second floor.  You can get larger houses on small lots this way.  I grew up in a two story house and I don't like them.  They are hard to heat and cool.  If the downstairs is cool to the point you are comfortable, you can almost feel the temperature rise as you go upstairs.  Going up and down stairs is a pain if you need to do more than a couple of trips a day.  Lastly, if you are on the first floor, you can hear just about everything on the second since the floors are rarely insulated.  It wouldn't bother me to rent one, but I wouldn't buy one.

Answer 7

Advantages:  It's nice to have more space.

Sliding down on your tummy can be fun- watch for rug burns!

Disadvantages:  It can be a pain to go up and down stairs all day long.

It can be really hot in the summer and really cold in the winter if the house is not insulated properly.