ᐅ Why choose 2 stories instead of 3? Aren't 3 stories more practical?

Hello everyone,

Can someone tell me why so few people build houses with three floors, and most opt for just two? Personally, I find it more practical if the parents have one floor and the children have another (in our planned case, without a basement, but with storage and technical rooms integrated on the different levels)... Is this significantly more expensive than two floors plus a basement? Or why do people prefer building underground rather than adding an extra floor above?

Sorry if this sounds like a silly question, but it’s something I’m wondering about...

Good luck
baunewbiene

Often, the zoning plan or building regulations do not allow the construction of three floors due to height restrictions or limits on the number of stories.

In many zoning plans, this is not possible. Even with two-story construction, the attic is often restricted, for example by setting the eave height to less than 7 m (23 feet).

It is also a matter of perspective. Climbing stairs definitely becomes more tiring with age. If you want to avoid these difficulties and plan for the future, you might consider building a bungalow (like me) or a house with only two floors (and a wider staircase).

Additionally, when doing laundry, clothes often need to be carried from the upper floors (bedrooms) down to the laundry room (washing machine/dryer). Although this can be planned differently, it is often the case.

In the new development areas around here, buildings are only allowed to have 1.5 stories. On the small building plots, it would have been difficult to fit our desired floor plan.
Therefore, we purchased an infill lot (at least 2 full stories required) and are building 2.5 stories without a basement.
It probably depends on individual needs and the options defined by the zoning plan / building permit.

I once had a house with three levels and I’m glad I don’t have it anymore.

For me personally, climbing the stairs wasn’t the problem (I’m not that old yet ), but constantly carrying things up and down was.

The washing machine hookup was in the attic, and our bedrooms were on the middle floor, so everything always had to be carried from the middle up. In summer, laundry had to be taken back down to the garden on the ground floor for drying.

Cleaning was another issue: the vacuum cleaner had to be carried up and down all the time, or you’d have to buy another one… because I don’t have a vacuum with a 50-meter (164-foot) cord.

In short, it all felt too chaotic after a while. You were constantly hauling yourself or various things between the floors.

Now we have bought a house with only a ground floor and an attic. If we ever get the chance to build, I’ll build a bungalow!