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Benefits of Building a 1 Story House

If you are in the market to build a new single-family home you might be weighing up the pros and cons of a single-story home or a two-story house. Both options have advantages and suit different types of situations and families. We look at the average cost to build 1 story house and why you might want to choose a single-floor house design.

In Chicago, there are many one-story home builders but Fortress Home stands head and shoulders above the rest, with 20+ years of making families' new house dreams come true.


Talk to us now about your one story house plans: 773-770-8607 or email [email protected]

Building a one-story house

How much does it cost to build a one-story house?

Calculating the cost to build a 1-story house depends on various elements:

  • The style of house and choice of materials
  • The one-story floor plans you choose
  • Where you are building the house
  • The size of the house
  • The standard of finish
  • Choice of a custom house or a standard or modular home
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In the US the average build costs for a single-story house is between $100 -$200 per square foot:

  • 1,000 square feet: $100,000 - $200,000
  • 2,000 square feet: $200,000 - $400,000
  • 3,000 square feet: $300,000 - $600,000
  • 4,000 square feet: $400,000 - $800,000

An experienced residential construction company provides a range of services for different housing projects.


Is it cheaper to build a 1 story house?

Usually, the cost to build a one-story house is similar to that of two-story houses, per square foot. According to Fixr, it costs between $100 - $400 per square foot for single-story and $100 - $380 per square foot for two-story, traditional stick-built homes.

Depending on the style, it can be slightly cheaper to build a two-story house as you need a smaller area of foundation and roofing, per square foot of living space, which may reduce costs.


How long does it take to build a 1 story house?

After you've chosen your single-story house plans you are probably wondering how long will it take to build.

Currently, the average time to build a new house is 7-8 months but many factors will affect this:

  • Permit and inspection delays
  • Weather delays
  • Availability of materials

Additionally, it is usually quickest to build a modular or prefab house, then a standard stick-built home, and lastly, it is usually slowest to build a custom modern single-story house.

Pros and cons

There are many other advantages to one-story home plans that you might also be interested in.

Pros

One-story floor plans are available for many styles, from cozy cottages to modern builds. While a single-story house plan might sound small you can have large living spaces, and it's easy to find 4 bedroom single-story house plans and other options for bedrooms, baths, stories, garages, and outdoor features. There are other benefits too:

  • Lower maintenance costs
  • Easy accessibility for the elderly or people with disabilities
  • 1 story house plans allow for a great flow in living spaces

Cons

There are some negatives too:

  • You need a larger plot of land for your chosen square footage
  • You will spend more on foundation and roofing for the same square footage of living space
  • Depending on the neighborhood it can reduce privacy

People often ask “What is a general contractor”? This is a company that provides a full spectrum of construction services.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 1 story house?

When choosing new house plans you may come across the terms "ranch style", "bungalow", and "single-story" used interchangeably. Each of these refers to a house that is all on a single level with no stairs or additional floors.

These homes are especially suited to the elderly or people for whom mobility is an issue. They are also popular for large plots of land, and there are some beautiful, large one-story house plans available.


What is a 2 story house?

Many traditional single-family homes are 2-story houses. They will have an upstairs and downstairs level. Most traditional or modern two-story house plans will have the living areas on the lower floor (kitchen, living rooms, etc) and bedrooms and master bathroom on the upper floor.

How tall is a 1 story house?

On average a one-story house plan will be around 15 feet tall, with the interior ceiling height usually around 9-10 feet tall. This makes a one-floor, single-family house more suited to suburban or more open neighborhoods.

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Fortress Home is a company that strives to build homes exclusively of high quality and comfort standards at an affordable price. Thanks to this approach, within the framework of each project, we not only achieve construction goals but also exceed our clients' initial expectations, including the quality of service.

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