At some point down the line, many homeowners find that their existing space cannot meet their needs anymore. Whether it is due to the family growing or the family’s need to add a playroom or more bedrooms to the home, there can be many reasons why you may need more space. Now if you wish to stay in your current home, there are only two options to increase your floor space: you can either extend your home to include the outdoor area or add another storey.
Adding another storey is a great way to add more space to your property without letting go of your backyard or outdoor space. Moreover, you have complete control to decide the floor plan as per your requirements.
There are many benefits of adding another storey to your house, some of which are as follows:
More living space
Second storey additions give you more space on the same plot of land. More space means more of anything you want – be it more bedrooms, bathrooms, storage space, or a larger living area. For a growing family, this is very important. As kids grow older, they would need their own rooms and adding another storey helps achieve this objective. You might even be able to get an extra room for your guests.
Greater flexibility
A double-storey house provides greater flexibility to plan the layout of your house according to your family’s needs. For example, you can choose to have all the bedrooms on the upper floor and the living rooms downstairs to ensure the bedrooms get greater privacy. Alternatively, in the case of a larger family, you can have some of the members living in one portion and the rest in another. The master bedroom for the parents can be upstairs with the kid’s bedrooms being downstairs.
Retain your outdoor space
By adding another storey to increase your space, you do not have to use your outdoor area, giving you the flexibility to use it as you wish. The outdoor area of the property is great for some outdoor fun, whether you choose to have a pool, kid’s play area, a small garden, or use it as a garage for your car.
Increases visual appeal of the property
Double-storey homes are always more visually appealing than their single storey counterparts. They have a more prominent presence in the neighbourhood and are sure to stand out from afar. With some planning into the overall aesthetics of your property, you can create a very beautiful place for yourself.
Better views
Upper floors tend to have a lot of better views than the ground floor. From the ground floor, you can only see the street and houses nearby while a second or third floor gives you a much better view of the whole neighbourhood or even areas nearby. For instance, if you live close to the beach, a second storey will provide beautiful views of the ocean right from your bedroom. Imagine sitting on your balcony on a hot summer day enjoying the breeze and the views – what could be more relaxing?
Adds value to the property
When you plan to sell your house some years down the line, you will find that adding another storey significantly increases the value of your property. Any major home renovation project, including adding a well-designed second storey, makes your property a lot more attractive to potential buyers. This is especially true if your home is located in an area where residential properties are in high demand and it is in close proximity to schools, hospitals, transportation, and other essential services.
Ensures optimum utilization of your land
As land prices continue to increase with time and larger blocks become more difficult to find, double-storey homes are the best way to get more value on a smaller land. Not everyone has the money to afford a large area of land but with this option, every homeowner can meet the needs of their family. Double-storey properties have seen a considerable rise in their popularity due to this reason.
Cost-effective
Many of you may now be wondering whether adding another storey is done at double the cost of the single storey. The great thing about adding another storey is that it can be done at 20-30% of the cost of your ground floor, depending on the floor plan.
If you compare the cost of a single storey home with the same amount of floor space as a double-storey, you will find that double-storey properties are cheaper. Adding another storey is a cost-effective way to increase your floor space.
Lower energy consumption
Adding another storey gives you more space while being energy efficient. Since there are less roof area and external walls are exposed to the weather compared to a large single-storey property, your house stays ventilated naturally. You will find that double-storey homes, particularly the ground floor, tend to be cooler in summer and warmer in winter than their single storey counterparts. This helps keep energy bills down.
Opportunity to make necessary repairs to the ground floor
Do you wish to add more space to your property but require some repairs on the ground floor as well? Adding another storey helps you meet both objectives. Before you can add on another storey, your ground floor has to be in top condition before it can give structural support to a second storey. This is an opportunity to replace any damaged areas around the house such as faulty doors or windows. You can also consider any changes you wish to make to your property such as upgrading your air-conditioning system.
The Final Word
Adding a second storey to your property can be a great decision with numerous benefits. You can get double the floor space at a fraction of the cost, all on the same block of land. Moreover, the views you get as a result of the added height are something you can’t get otherwise. You can also design your overall layout as you wish by reserving the ground floor for the common areas and daytime activities, and the second storey for the bedrooms in order to achieve greater privacy and seclusion.
Lastly, every homeowner wishes to add long-term value to their property. After all, most of us continue living in one home for 10 years or more. For this reason, you want the best value for your money and adding another storey achieves this objective. It is the cheapest way to get more space and also, increases the value of your property when you plan to sell it anytime in the future.
