by Engineer Designer on February 3, 2011
Which is more desirable - a single or a multi story home? This is an intriguing subject which I am frequently asked. The reply is, as is typical with many such debates, " It depends". There are pluses and minuses to each. Let's inspect the pros and cons of these two choices and then weigh the outlay to build each type.
Plus-points of a Single Story:
- Easier to build. - Framing and other structural requirements are usually less.
- No stairs - Stairs can be beautiful to view but sometimes are a deal-breaker, especially if there are current or foreseen disability issues.
- A more sprawled design - one can generally place elements farther apart on a single story home. It's sometimes helpful to have the master bedroom and the kids bedrooms separated adequately.
Cons of a Single-Story
- Takes up more room on the property.
- If it has a basement then that can be so huge as to be unmanagable.
- Generally more roofing area which can create more occasion to leak.
Pros of a Two-Story
- More compact - Can fit more onto a single, small lot.
- The look - Two or more story homes can be quite sensational. One can have two story atriums, majestic entries, etc. that really set the home design apart.
- Separation - There are types of separation that can in fact be done better on a two-story. Getting the bedrooms upstairs can get them separated nicely from more common spaces below. In homes where entertainment is to be done this can be a nice quality.
Cons of a Two-Story
- More complex to build.
- Can cause accessibility situations in certain cases.
- Present a larger area for wind forces - structures will have to be a bit complicated.
Investment Comparison:
In my time as a designer and builder one and two story homes tend to be similar in price tag.:
- A two story home has one roof which covers more living area which makes it it more cost effective. Point for 2-story
- A two-story home has one slab/foundation system which works to support more structure - thereby a bit more cost effective. Point for 2-story.
- A single story has a simpler structural system - usually simple exterior walls and a roof - whereby the two story has the stairs and the upper floor system. Point for 1- story.
- With a two-story one can get away with a smaller lot. Point for 2-story.
- With a single story one can utilize, especially with cement block walls, a less expensive finish such as stucco over block. On a two-story we always have the issue of how to cover the second floor. Point for 1-story.
- On a single story homes, most through the roof venting, including chimneys, may be run to a lower height. Heating ducts and piping can be complex on a two-story. Point for 1-story.
Though costs tend to balance out, for any given living area, the the call as to which to build will be hinged upon many things - but mostly upon what you want. You may have fond memories in an old 2-story home you were a child in up north. As in all design, you create what you want.
This is the great thing about custom design and built homes. You are the final say! It's up to you. Hire an expert designer and engineer and you can create and build most anything.
by Engineer Designer on September 9, 2010
As in most beautiful things, beach homes are easy to appreciate and love, but there is a significant background of technical and legal issues that must be met to bring them into being.
The undertaking, like so many in our country, is now mostly owned by governmental regulators who act, almost daily, to protect just about anything and everything that comes to their minds. Restrictions have become most onerous. But they are finite and can, with professional guidance, be handle.
Here are five 5 issues, unique to building on a beach, that need to be considered:
Elevation - Determined by zoning, the elevation of the main floor of the structure must be considered. This is established as a BFE (Base Flood Elevation) which is a specified height above sea level. It is required that the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member be at or above this elevation. Finish floors will generally be higher. It is VITAL that this be done correctly and verified by a registered surveyor. I have seen projects built just inches below these requirements which had to be demolished and rebuilt. The officials take this quite seriously.
FEMA - The Federal Emergency Management Agency has developed codes and requirements that affect structures on the beach. These include what types and the sizes of enclosed spaces that may be built on the ground (below the required elevation), the types of materials allowed, electrical restrictions, and many other requirements. Also, if one intends to enclose the space under the home (for parking or storage) the enclosing walls must be designed to break away during a storm event. These are called “break-away” walls and their purpose is to allow storm water to flow naturally without hindrance.
Pilings – Beach homes will usually be on stilts (columns). These will be supported by pilings which are driven into the ground. Pilings are designed to hold if a portion of the soil around them erodes away during the storm. Pilings are designed by a Geotechnical Engineer who specializes in ground investigation and design. Additionally, a Structural Engineer will assure that the loads are adequately supported against water, wind and gravity forces.
Windborn Debris – Doors and Windows must be designed to withstand significant winds as well as the impact of high-velocity projectiles. These are known as “Impact Resistant” windows and doors and can be purchased from numerous manufactures.
DER – The Department of Environmental Regulation will be intimately involved. They assure that wetlands are considered, beach features remain undisturbed, and that wildlife is protected. Lighting is controlled so that beach mice and sea turtles are not adversely affected by the night lights coming from the structure. Additional setback requirements (in addition to the local requirements) are sometimes imposed by DER.
Beach home design, while exciting and aesthetic, is quite technical. However, many consider it worth it to achieve the ultimate in living in Florida and southeastern coastal states. The requirements are numerous – but finite. There are only so many.
Hiring a good professional designer is your best bet to assure that you are guided through the process thoroughly and beautifully.
by Engineer Designer on August 21, 2010
As the illusion of ever-increasing complexities and danger is amplified by 24 hour news and the apocalyptic shows on Discovery and the History Channel some may wonder if they need to better protect themselves in their own homes.
Can one’s own home be a safe haven during the worst of storms?
In 2004 and 2005 US was hit by several hurricanes and we saw (or experienced) the destruction of these events. Homes today are being built by high structural standards – however they are designed, in reality, for wind events that occur in mid-sized hurricanes. Get a really big storm (a Category 4 or 5) and all bets are off.
Beyond evacuation and other very wise precautions, you can still provide for a way to get to safety in your own home by building what is called a safe room.. These are sometimes called storm shelters.
A safe room is a small windowless room that has been strengthened to resist the effects of wind pressures and the impact from windborne debris generated by extremely severe weather. These are becoming rather common in Florida and other hurricane state.
A relatively cheap storm shelter can provide you and your family with a sense of security knowing that there is a space in your home that will withstand the forces of the worst hurricanes. These can also act as tornado shelters.
What is a safe room? It is usually a small space within the home that has special walls, ceilings, fastening systems and doors and are (to use an engineering term) really, really strong They can serve the vital purpose of providing safety for you and your lovelies during those scary events.
I’ve designed a few myself for folks who value the room’s existence even if they never actually use it. Seems a lot like insurance, doesn’t it?
These rooms can be separate or can be some part of the home, like a walk-in closet, which is built like the proverbial brick stink house. They need to be isolated from the main structure so that as the main home becomes unglued and turns into countless fragments, this little oasis of space remains unscathed.
The best way to do this, above ground, is to build a concrete storm shelter with walls that are reinforced masonry, with all the cells (the holes in the concrete block that you have seen) filled with reinforcing bars and concrete. Generally we form and pour concrete slab roof over top. This can be relatively inexpensive do to if you are building your home – it is easy to work into the structure.
One of my clients had me design his master walk-in closet and bathroom into a safe room. Its ceiling was designed to be concrete and rest just below the bottom chord of the trusses. The trusses could blow off and basically the entire home could collapse yet he and his family would remain safe.
Any structural engineer can design such as space for you. FEMA has a great guideline called FEMA320A “Taking Shelter from the Storm: Building a Safe Room inside your house”.
Of course, we can’t nor should we worry all the time. Life has its inherent risks. But, like insurance, a safe room can offer peace of mind – even if you never really use it.
