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Quoted for truth. Use it or lose it. Nothing wrong with getting a single story if you need it. If you find yourself with balance problems or some other disability, by all means find the right type of housing, but to dismiss stairs simply based on the prospect of some future disability caused by a willful neglect of your basic physical aptitude is engineering for obsolecence of your own body.
One level homes are also much easier and cheaper to heat and cool.
Not according to the laws of thermodynamics!
. . .
The most efficient volume is the sphere (least surface area for most volume).
But most folks don't fit well in spheres or hemispheres (domes).
Next, comes the cube (i.e., a multistory house, 3 story 28x28).
Least efficient is a sprawling one story house, with far more surface area in relation to enclosed volume.
. . .
However, installing an elevator to alleviate the stairway problem IS expensive.
Generally speaking, in most parts of North America, two-stop home elevators start in the range of $20,000 installed. Typical installations cost between $19,000 and $39,000.
Not according to the laws of thermodynamics!
. . .
The most efficient volume is the sphere (least surface area for most volume).
But most folks don't fit well in spheres or hemispheres (domes).
Next, comes the cube (i.e., a multistory house, 3 story 28x28).
Least efficient is a sprawling one story house, with far more surface area in relation to enclosed volume.
. . .
However, installing an elevator to alleviate the stairway problem IS expensive.
Generally speaking, in most parts of North America, two-stop home elevators start in the range of $20,000 installed. Typical installations cost between $19,000 and $39,000.
The most thermally efficient home has no windows. Unless they throw me in jail, I have no plans to live in that.
Well, you may not live in your forever home forever.
It seems that people here plan to live in their house for 30-40 years. According to the statistics, you will probably sell your house way earlier than that.
I have to chuckle at the folks drawing the conclusion that anyone complaining about stairs must be a decaying couch potato. I am transitioning from a 2-story over a garage to a ranch w/bonus room. I prefer getting my exercise swimming and hiking to getting up at 2 AM and schlepping all the way downstairs and around back to let the dog out to pee or making multiple trips hauling grocery bags up a flight from a drive under garage.
Nope. You're the young one in the discussion.
Over 50 the appeal of stairs diminishes rapidly
I'm 63 and not in the best shape but I can climb stairs. Very...easily... I'm thinking that over 83 the appeal of stairs diminishes rapidly.
All you country people...where I live, if I didn't have two and a half stories, I'd have the world's smallest house. Tall houses are an efficient use of space in the city, and one story houses are as scarce as hen's teeth.
It's all personal preference. I have lived in both and I prefer single story. I always hated that pile of 'stuff' on the stairs waiting to go up or down. And hauling the vacuum cleaner and all the laundry! And trash day. Whatever you need will always be on another floor.
I don't think 2 story is more energy efficient. At least not in climate where you use AC. To get the bedrooms on the top floor cool enough costs a lot extra.
It's all personal preference. I have lived in both and I prefer single story. I always hated that pile of 'stuff' on the stairs waiting to go up or down. And hauling the vacuum cleaner and all the laundry! And trash day. Whatever you need will always be on another floor.
I don't think 2 story is more energy efficient. At least not in climate where you use AC. To get the bedrooms on the top floor cool enough costs a lot extra.
I prefer 2 story. For a house of the size that I want (>5000 sq ft) a 2-story house is the only way to go. That much space on 1-story is much more walking to get throughout the house, vs a 2-story with a central staircase. As far as the vacuum goes, we duplicate things, we have an upstairs vacuum and one for downstairs, etc. We've got a mini fridge in our bar area upstairs for drinks etc, so we don't have to trudge downstairs to get a cold one.
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