Which costs more; Building a 1 story or 2 story house?

Question

I am interested in building a house. I either want a split plan or a 2 story with the kids upstairs. Which would cost me less to build if the square footage is about the same? The house will be in FL and will not have a basement.

srockey

The house will be in central Fl away from the coasts, Marion county. It is on 3 acres, so the footprint is not an issue.

Answer 1

In addition to the construction costs you may want to check with the property appraisers office and find out whether the house is going to be taxed on square footage of ground floor or both floors. Sometimes the tax is based on how much land the structure occupies. Also heating and a/c is going to be a major factor here in Florida, consider those costs too.

Here is the contact info for Marion County Property Appraisers office.

http://www.pa.marion.fl.us/
Phone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]

Your home most likely will be frame on top and please check into the quality of the builder. I am familiar with some 2 story construction companies that you are considering using... so you might want to do some research on the quality of their work with the Better Business Bureau. Always research complaints first before signing anything!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

As far as the actual costs for construction of the home and cost for materials, the two story house will be less expensive to build. If you stack two levels of living space equal to the living space of a single story home, you will get the same amount of finished square footage with the two story while paying roughly half the costs for foundation materials and roofing materials. Only the first level will need a foundation and only the second level will need a roof system. For more info about this concept and to read about other advantages of building a one or two story home, check out the article below. We are in the beginning stages of building and have found lots of info on this website that has been really helpful to us.

http://www.thehouseplanshop.com/16/content/Building-Up-Verses-Building-Out.php

Answer 3

Since the land is probably pretty expensive there, it would be cheaper to buy a smaller lot and build a two story house.

Construction costs on a two-story are higher than a one-story, so you have to weigh the cost of the land and compare it to the construction.

Where I live, land is very cheap, so our company recently built a HUGE building, and only made it two stories. It was cheaper to build OUT than UP.

Answer 4

Quite frankly, I am going to tell you what logic tells me. Get a quote for both. You are putting alot of thought into this and the price difference between the two may be enough to make up your mind. If you get the basement, make sure the ground is suitable for it and that the grade of the land falls away from the house. Also, make sure to get plumbing installed by the builder in the basement for a bathroom even if you don't install a bathroom down there now.

Answer 5

near the coast or away from it?

usual construction methods in inland florida are cbs 1st floor and wood upper. however, this may not meet required hurricane resistance code in Miami-Dade or Broward counties, or anywhere else in coastal florida.

2nd story cbs is expensive ... you have to use scaffolding to get the masons up that high.

if very close to coast, building on stilts is required [no residential portions or plumbing on 1st floor due to likely flooding during storm surge]. this is very costly.

inland, my guess would be that two story will be cheaper for same sq ft -- less pad to be poured and less roof to be built.


all florida counties have building codes ... most are online ... give 'em a look in your target area.

Answer 6

The two story would cost more even with the same square footage since your property size will not matter.