Split-level houses in Canada were built for a variety of reasons. They were typically built to accommodate the growing population and the need for more housing.
Split-level houses are built so that they can be divided into two separate living spaces, one on top of the other, with each room having its own entrance and access. This allows for privacy and increased storage space for one or both levels.
The Rise & Fall of Split Level Houses in Canada
Split-level houses were popular in Canada for a few decades, but they have been on the decline for the last few years. This is due to more Canadians preferring single-family homes over split-level houses.
A split-level house has a ground floor and an upper floor. The ground floor is typically used as the living area while the upper floor is used as bedrooms or extra space. This design was popular during the 1950s and 60s when many Canadians moved out of their apartments into split-level homes that could accommodate bigger families with more children.
Advantages of owning a split level house
Privacy is one of the benefits of split-level homes.
A split-level floor plan can provide excellent privacy, especially if bedrooms are located on both levels.
Affordability
Split-level homes are frequently out of date, and the concept of a split-level floor plan isn’t exactly cutting-edge. This combination, in many cases, can result in a price-per-square-foot bargain.
The disadvantages of split-level homes
Flight of stairs
If you’re concerned about your ability to climb stairs, either now or in the future, split-level home is probably not the best option. Not only do you have to climb stairs to enter the house, but you also have to climb up or down to move between the living areas.
Awkward appearance
While split-level homes were popular about 30 years ago, many modern homebuyers find them to have an awkward appearance. As a result, they may be more difficult to sell than a ranch or traditional two-storey house.
What is the difference between a split-level home and a ranch?
Architectural Style of Split-Levels
A split-level home design combines elements of both a two-storey house and ranch home. A conventional two-storey section of the home is connected to a single-storey section in a typical split-level design, with the single-storey section meeting the two-storey section at a level halfway between the two floors. The vertical distance between any two adjacent levels of the house is thus a half flight rather than a full flight of stairs.
A split-level design is also known as a tri-level design because it divides the floor plan of the home into three distinct floor levels. The upper level is commonly used as a private sleeping space, the middle level as a public living space that includes the kitchen and living room, and the lower level as an informal family recreational and utility space. As a result, public and private spaces are more separated than in a ranch-style home, but at a lower cost in terms of convenience when compared to a two-storey design.
Ranch
The ranch is a single-storey design that was by far the most popular type of home in the 1950s in Canada. Its entire living space is on a single level, which means no stairs or inconvenient vertical separation of different parts of the home’s floor plan. However, it has the disadvantage of combining public and private living spaces on the same level, requiring significantly more lot space than a two-storey home for the same amount of living space.
Should you purchase a split-level home in Thunder Bay?
A split-level home in Thunder bay can provide excellent value for your home buying dollar, and it can be an excellent choice for homebuyers who want some separation between living spaces while keeping the main areas of the home close together. On the other hand, it may be a bad choice for buyers who don’t want a lot of stairs, and the generally awkward appearance of split-level houses (when compared to modern homes) may make them more difficult to sell.
There are different types of houses in Thunder Bay that you can consider. Have a look at it.