what are the pros and cons of split level homes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cons: Ugly
Pros: Cheap because ugly

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate split foyers. But split level doesn't bother me.

Same. My grandparents had a split foyer and it became really difficult for them in their old age. Even though they're kinda ugly, I don't mind split levels except for those that seem to keep going forever- at some point the additional rooms are kinda useless.

[Anonymous]

Love split foyers.

Two main living areas. Just the right amount of privacy upper vs lower floor. Kids can be watching tv, I can see them, we can be upstairs doing something different. No closed doors, no "kids in the basement"

[Anonymous]

Split foyer ~ our guests have their own bedroom, full bath, and their own expansive living room - not a basement. Has fullsize windows everywhere.

Unless you had an extensive rambler, this wouldn't happen otherwise.

[Anonymous]

We are in a split level in Bethesda. In our neighborhood, many of the homes are split level. Anyway, I love it and would buy it again. That said, here are the issues:

GREAT lighting and main level layout. Great flow for parties.

Noisy, but that may be because we have hardwoods. When your kid goes to be at 730, like mine does, you can't be blaring the tv just one level below. Even walking around with our creaky floors will sometimes wake her.

No bathroom on the main level, which is really only a problem when my mom comes to visit because she has hip issues and is out of shape. But it does get to be a pain to always go up or down to get to a potty.

We didn't have issues gating with our DD. We put a gate over the down stairs and she just learned with the up stairs. We had to watch her closer, but it was no big deal.

Warmth. It is significantly warmer upstairs and the basement is always freezing. Again, that may be our house because it's older and needs better insulation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in a split level in Bethesda. In our neighborhood, many of the homes are split level. Anyway, I love it and would buy it again. That said, here are the issues:

GREAT lighting and main level layout. Great flow for parties.

Noisy, but that may be because we have hardwoods. When your kid goes to be at 730, like mine does, you can't be blaring the tv just one level below. Even walking around with our creaky floors will sometimes wake her.

No bathroom on the main level, which is really only a problem when my mom comes to visit because she has hip issues and is out of shape. But it does get to be a pain to always go up or down to get to a potty.

We didn't have issues gating with our DD. We put a gate over the down stairs and she just learned with the up stairs. We had to watch her closer, but it was no big deal.

Warmth. It is significantly warmer upstairs and the basement is always freezing. Again, that may be our house because it's older and needs better insulation.

I love our split level but this is my biggest gripe with it. I feel like I can never get the temperature right in every area of the house.

[Anonymous]

We built a modified split level entry with a new plan. At the bottom it t has the raised basement with a family room that includes a fireplace, a laundry room, a guest room, a fullbath, mechanical room and storage under the foyer area. Then up the half stars to the expanded front foyer entrance level ( includes a closet and a corner bench) with a covered front porch outside. The porch s large enought to hold a round table with 4 chairs. The double attached garage has a mudroom which leads into the front foyer. The stairs lead down to the basement or up to the main level but are cross angled to each other. The main level has a great room with a fireplace, kitchen and dining area, , a full bathroom, a master bedroom with an ensure bath and a deck off the dining table area. It also has a landing beside the stairs and for the modified bit there is third half staircase leading up to two large bedrooms over the garage. The two upper stairs are parallel but separated by the landing. We put our Christmas tree there. We enclosed the area under the outside deck for storage.

The two fireplaces address the heating issues. The expanded foyer and mudroom address the entry issues. The attached garage has two bays and one juts out past the other. With the roof line changed due to the bedrooms up top and the covered front porch it has great curb appeal. We have plenty of storage. Plans for split level entry houses have changed for the better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in a 4 level split..not a split foyer which I don't like. I like the fact that there are only 7 steps between levels. Thos colonial staircase felt like mountains when carrying babies or laundry. There feels like more seperate spaces than just two levels. We don't have a bathroom on the main floor which is a flaw but I feel that this is because our house was built in 62. And again..7 steps to the bathroom is better than a whole flight of stairs.

We renovated one-addition was kitchen/PR/sitting area. Old kitchen became hall with closets and part of expanded DR. Also went up. Very livable and easy to do but if the neighborhood is all splits don't bother. This was in an area with varied houses.

One good example is local - split level turned into Nantucket cottage. See the windows? Kept original bedroom level, added bedroom level.
http://www.landisconstruction.com/potomac-md-nantucket-style-shingled-home-pwh01d/

[Anonymous]

I lived in one for a while. The problem was that I had a hard time using it as it was intended. You're supposed to use the lower level as standard living space, but I just considered it a basement and didn't use it.

Decided that it is a good option for people who know how to use a split level properly, but I am more fit for colonial or ranch style house.

To each their own. Also, the split foyer style is not as ugly as a standard split, unlike what some PPs are saying.

[Anonymous]

Split foyers are for people who want colonials but can't afford colonials.

[Anonymous]

I don't like split foyers but I like our split level. Many are ugly but that's really just the built-in-the-70s thing.

Ours was built in the late 50s and was a large home and good build quality for the time. It is all painted brick with a big front window, shutters and a chimney. No siding or tiny windows.

Comparable colonials would be $50k more. I decided I'd rather have the $50k.

Split levels without curb appeal would probably be another $50k less than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't like split foyers but I like our split level. Many are ugly but that's really just the built-in-the-70s thing.

Ours was built in the late 50s and was a large home and good build quality for the time. It is all painted brick with a big front window, shutters and a chimney. No siding or tiny windows.

Comparable colonials would be $50k more. I decided I'd rather have the $50k.

Split levels without curb appeal would probably be another $50k less than that.

Ours is also a "side to side split" which means you walk into the main living area, stairs up and down to bedrooms are tucked away on the left side of the living room. Not in your face when you walk in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like split foyers but I like our split level. Many are ugly but that's really just the built-in-the-70s thing.

Ours was built in the late 50s and was a large home and good build quality for the time. It is all painted brick with a big front window, shutters and a chimney. No siding or tiny windows.

Comparable colonials would be $50k more. I decided I'd rather have the $50k.

Split levels without curb appeal would probably be another $50k less than that.

Ours is also a "side to side split" which means you walk into the main living area, stairs up and down to bedrooms are tucked away on the left side of the living room. Not in your face when you walk in.

So the bedrooms are below ground level?? That sounds awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like split foyers but I like our split level. Many are ugly but that's really just the built-in-the-70s thing.

Ours was built in the late 50s and was a large home and good build quality for the time. It is all painted brick with a big front window, shutters and a chimney. No siding or tiny windows.

Comparable colonials would be $50k more. I decided I'd rather have the $50k.

Split levels without curb appeal would probably be another $50k less than that.

Ours is also a "side to side split" which means you walk into the main living area, stairs up and down to bedrooms are tucked away on the left side of the living room. Not in your face when you walk in.

So the bedrooms are below ground level?? That sounds awful.

Np here. Reread the bolder. If it's like our split the bedrooms are both up and down. Three up, two down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like split foyers but I like our split level. Many are ugly but that's really just the built-in-the-70s thing.

Ours was built in the late 50s and was a large home and good build quality for the time. It is all painted brick with a big front window, shutters and a chimney. No siding or tiny windows.

Comparable colonials would be $50k more. I decided I'd rather have the $50k.

Split levels without curb appeal would probably be another $50k less than that.

Ours is also a "side to side split" which means you walk into the main living area, stairs up and down to bedrooms are tucked away on the left side of the living room. Not in your face when you walk in.

So the bedrooms are below ground level?? That sounds awful.

The bedrooms on the lower level are ground level. Why? Because the main living area is actually slightly above ground level. Below all of that we have a basement with some window peeking through at the top of the wall (and in the back, a door with a stairwell).