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Frequently you will find living and dining areas on the main level with bedrooms located on an upper level. Split-level homes are certainly making a comeback, but it’s important to choose the type of split-level that works best for you and your lifestyle. You can choose from stacked-split, split-foyer, split-entry, back-split, standard-split, or side-split.
Staggered floors make for a quiet home office.
However, like most things, split-level homes are gaining in popularity again. Developers have generally supported the bill but have criticized anti-speculation provisions in the law that require a property owner requesting a lot split to agree to live in the house for at least three years. They have also argued that fees and other barriers cities have imposed have prevented the law from working as intended. The key is installing a single steel column or one or two specially engineered walls that are 12 to 18 inches wide, made from either steel or wood and act like columns. These braces, installed by the garage door, are designed to resist side-to-side shaking in an earthquake and connect the second floor to the home’s concrete foundation. The earthquake safety risk in soft-story homes is significant; they can crush people inside a garage.
Plan: #147-1152
The end effect can lend the appearance of the house being built into the hill. While the design of split level homes can vary (some split in the front, others split in the back), a good number will feature a set of exterior stairs leading to the front door instead of a level sidewalk. The number of steps ranges from two to eight or more, each additional step meaning more of a challenge to remove snow and ice in winter.
Plan: #126-1063
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Characterized by its multi-story, simple, and spacious design, the split-level house is perfect for households large and small. So whether you’re looking to buy or rent a home, a split-level house may be for you. Not to mention, the steps can be a problem for elderly visitors or even simply carrying the groceries inside. In some places, homeowners with exterior steps will install a mailbox at street level. The reason is to prevent on-foot postal carriers from having to climb stairs to deliver the mail. “It’s heartbreaking to see these people who have lost houses, cars, essentially their life until they have to rebuild it,” he said, urging people to stay away because of downed power lines.
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The lower level exits to the garage as well and usually has a rec room, a bedroom, and sometimes even a second kitchen which makes them a great alternative to the in-law suite or for older kids that have moved back home. Bi-level houses are also commonly referred to as a “raised ranch.” In most cases, the lower level is partially underground but still has windows. Oftentimes, this floor will have a bedroom, bathroom, and possibly a laundry room. Whereas, the upper level will have a dining room, living room, and kitchen on one side and more bathrooms and bedrooms on the other. Common features of split-level houses include large living areas, low-pitched roofs, and multiple attics with ample storage space. Split-levels also showcase natural materials, minimal decorations, and double-hung windows with one large picture window.
This means you’ll have to climb multiple stairs in order to do your laundry in your own home. The first staircase that leads downwards goes to either the basement or some other type of informal living space. Here you’ll typically find the living room, dining room, kitchen, and possibly a bathroom. Meanwhile, the topmost level is where all of the bedrooms and bathrooms are.
And now, California is launching a limited pilot program, called Earthquake Soft-Story, that will offer select homeowners grants of up to $13,000 to help fund a retrofit. Another earthquake risk is the collapse of brick chimneys built before 1995, which can kill or seriously injure residents and pets. The safest option for most older chimneys is to demolish all or a portion of the stack, although some can be deemed safe if certain criteria are met, officials say. But seismic experts are now raising alarms about this style, saying it is vulnerable to collapse in a major earthquake. "Make sure the garage ceiling is not only properly insulated to avoid cold/hot air escaping, but also ensure the materials are fire-rated, as many house fires start in garages," Barnes says. Here's what you should consider if you're looking to purchase a split-level home.
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If you're looking to list your split-level home or wondering whether you could sell one down the line if you choose to buy one now, you're likely questioning if this style has good resale potential. Kristine Gill is a former newspaper reporter who spent five years as a spokesperson for a law enforcement agency. Staying up to date with what’s trending is a great way to make it stand out in the crowd. Metal roofs are especially popular, and can be installed quickly and easily. When tied with the right siding and gutters, the right roof can completely transform the curb appeal of your home.
Aside from the differences on the exterior, both back split and side split houses have roughly the same design. Again, the main advantage to this type of split-level home is the lack of staircases connecting each level of the house. Split entry homes have, as the name suggests, an entry that is between floors. The entrance is a small section that is separate from all the main floors of the home.
While we know that the design of a split-level house can vary, many of them will have a set of stairs outside that lead to the front door instead of a flat sidewalk. The more steps you have, the more difficult snow removal is going to be in the winter months. Similar to a side split home, back split houses are divided into multiple levels. If you were to view the home from the side or the back, you’d be able to see the individual levels of the house.
Few remodeling options are open to owners of split level homes because the layout isn’t conducive to making changes. The original split-level style home, standard splits have three distinct floors connected by short flights of stairs, all laid out over a fairly small footprint. Commonplace around much of the Midwest and many suburban areas, the standard split features little decoration and generally contains open floor plans. The entry has sets of stairs leading up the main floor and another set that leads to the lower level of the home. Placement of the family room, kitchen, dining room, bedrooms, and bathrooms can all vary in this style.
This allows the contractor to adjust the foundation to suit the lot rather than having to excavate through bedrock to construct an entire basement on a single level. Split level construction is still commonly seen today where it’s necessary to build a home on the side of a hill. In this case, the floor plan is often designed by an architect to fit the individual lot topography.
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