Photo: pinterest.se Are you planning to build your own cottage, but don’t know which plan to choose and how to place all the necessary rooms? We invite you to pay attention to practical and comfortable two-story houses. This is a great way to save space on your site and use it for a garden, gazebo, playground or pool. More design and architectural ideas are appearing, and most importantly - the opportunity to equip the attic and balconies!
Selection of materials for construction
When choosing a material for building a house, take into account the price, labor costs, thermal insulation and costs for further finishing. Cold walls will cost too much in winter if you don’t take care of insulation, unlike warm ones. Smooth modern materials are easier to paint or sheathe the outside - and this is also a saving.
Traditional brick can last over 100 years, is not afraid of heat and frost, and the installation technology has been worked out to the smallest detail. But it requires a massive foundation due to its weight, and masonry will require time and investment. It is much easier and faster to work with ceramic blocks, but they are expensive and more fragile.
Aerated concrete and expanded clay concrete blocks are a lightweight, practical and warm material with a porous structure and high fire resistance. But they have low bending strength and can crack over time. The closest alternative is more expensive, but durable, load-resistant wood concrete with high insulating properties.
Log houses are comfortable, environmentally friendly, always spectacular and cozy. But it is difficult to work with natural wood; you need to wait for it to shrink and protect it from moisture and pests. Construction from timber is easier and faster, but the main disadvantages still remain.
Various technologies of frame houses, houses made of SIP panels and other prefabricated structures have proven themselves well. It's easy, quick and practical, but can be challenging to customize. Another option for a two-story house is a combined technology: for example, a wooden top on a stone base.
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The main advantages of the terrace
A house with a terrace has many advantages:
- The terrace is not only a magnificent view of your own plot, but also an opportunity to breathe fresh air without moving too far from the house.
- A timber terrace is an original design that does not require additional decor.
- Construction of a terrace will not take a lot of time and money. It will be cheaper than building a gazebo separately from the house.
- A terrace built from laminated veneer lumber will last a long time. This is due to the characteristics of the material, a special impregnation that protects the material from fungus, mold and insects.
Roof for a two-story house
All classic types of roofs are suitable for a two-story house: flat, single- and multi-slope, hipped and domed, hip and half-hip, conical, mansard and combined. When choosing, focus on the style of the house and the architectural project as a whole. For example, in order to arrange a living space in the attic, you will have to think through the attic roof in advance.
Sheet roofing materials are easy to install and quick to install, but they are not suitable for complex configurations. This is a very durable corrugated sheet or metal tile with a polymer coating, universal and inexpensive slate, lightweight and unpretentious ondulin.
Piece materials look more impressive and are suitable for roofs of any shape and configuration, but working with them takes longer and is more difficult. These are unpretentious fire-resistant ceramic tiles, cheaper but heavier cement-sand tiles, elite slate, durable but still rare composites.
Soft bitumen coatings with increased thermal insulation properties are not afraid of fungus and ultraviolet radiation. The sheets are hermetically fused, so they do not leak in winter and during rainstorms. They can even be installed on domed roofs. But it is fundamentally important to follow the installation technology so as not to deform the slabs with the burner.
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Layout options for a two-story house
The classic layout of a two-story house involves placing all utility rooms on the ground floor and residential premises on the second. For example, below there is an entrance hall, living room, kitchen and dining room, and above there are bedrooms, a nursery and an office.
The boiler room, storage room and technical rooms are also moved downstairs. It is more convenient to place bathrooms on two floors at once: for example, below is a guest room with a shower, and above is a master floor with a bathtub. If a garage or sauna is attached to the house, they are also immediately included in the overall plan.
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Two-story houses - projects and photos
Even standard designs of two-story houses differ in a variety of styles and configurations. Small, elegant cottages suitable for a single person or a couple. And full-fledged spacious mansions may well become a real family nest for the whole family.
Two-story brick house
Ceramic or silicate ordinary bricks are used for construction. Ceramic is baked clay, so it is completely environmentally friendly, does not burn and does not allow water to pass through. Silicate contains sand and lime with additives, so it is more varied in color.
For two-story cottages, both hollow and solid bricks are suitable: the first is warmer, and the second is stronger. The marking of each series specifies its frost resistance: for the base and foundation it should be higher. Please note that brick two-story cottages need a solid foundation due to their weight.
Two-story house made of timber
Construction timber is smooth, even logs with precise geometric dimensions and different cross-sections. That is why it is easier to work with than with a log house, although it does not look as natural and impressive. Sawn timber is too wet and shrinks, so planed or glued timber is used for houses.
The thermal conductivity of wood is much better than that of brick, and a healthy microclimate always reigns in the premises. A wooden house does not even require mandatory finishing - it is beautiful in itself. But wood needs to be treated with antiseptics and fire retardants; it can crack, and shrinkage lasts for several years.
Two-story house with garage
To move the garage into a separate building, you will need a large adjacent area, and this is not always advisable. If you are attaching it to a house, take care of sound insulation and uniform finishing of the façade and roof. Unlike the main building, it is better not to make a garage out of wood: wall panels are much better.
Most often, the garage has two entrances: to the street and to the house, and the second requires more careful organization. Make a separate corridor or vestibule between the utility and living spaces so that odors and cold air do not enter the room. Be sure to think over the roof configuration so that it is holistic and harmonious.
Two-story house with a balcony
The ability to add a balcony is one of the main advantages of two-story houses. This is a decoration of the facade, an excellent place for relaxation and admiring nature, expanding the functional living space and increasing the amount of light in the room.
Keep in mind that this is a suspended structure, so a balcony that is too large requires additional support. For this, special crossbars and columns made of brick, wood or reinforced concrete are used. You can make a small canopy or pergola over the balcony to protect from rain and sun.
Two-story house with a terrace
A terrace is a full-fledged summer area that can be used as a relaxation area, dining room, living room or summer kitchen. In one-story houses they are attached from below, but a two-story cottage allows you to build it on the second floor. And then nothing will stop you from enjoying the picturesque views with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.
Structurally, terraces can be open, partially covered or completely closed. Closed ones are attached from below, they can be used all year round and can even be heated. Sometimes a large and spacious porch, an equally large balcony, a gazebo or a veranda are called terraces.
Two-story house with attic
In the attic of a two-story house you can place a recreation room, a guest room, an office, a gym, a billiard room, and a home theater. But most often they are used to locate bedrooms and children’s rooms with spectacular panoramic windows. Roofs are usually single-pitch, gable or sloping. Keep in mind that the first floor of houses with an attic is usually more massive than the second: the structure gradually narrows upward. Therefore, think over the layout in advance if you want to move several rooms upstairs. And most importantly, carefully calculate the load on the foundation, taking into account the total area of the cottage.
Two-story house with a flat roof
A flat roof looks stylish and modern on similar two-story houses in a modern style. This is a good option for regions with windy seasons and snowy winters. The coating will not suffer from wind loads, and snow will not accumulate on the surface.
Another advantage of a flat roof is functionality and the ability to create additional space above. For example, a small area, a recreation area, a small garden or a greenhouse. But you definitely need to choose a special coating and insulation, including waterproofing.
Two-story house in Scandinavian style
Scandinavian-style houses are laconic, minimalistic, functional and simple. Only natural materials are used for construction, because unity with nature is the main concept of northern traditions. Another mandatory requirement is energy efficiency, making it comfortable inside both in hot summers and frosty winters.
Among the pronounced visual features is the simplicity of finishing the facade without complex patterns and decorative elements. The decoration uses a laconic and natural color palette: black, white, brown, and less often blue. The whole structure is a regular triangle with smooth walls and a gable tiled roof.
Two-story chalet-style house
Chalet-style houses are romantic alpine houses with a stone first floor and a wooden second floor. Their feature is a high gable roof protruding beyond the facade, covered attics and large window openings with massive frames. Chalet houses fit best on green hilly areas with an alpine garden.
Strictly natural materials are used for construction: timber, boards, wooden panels. For example, relatively inexpensive, but unpretentious and moisture-resistant larch is suitable. The stone part provides additional thermal insulation and raises the level of the house, so that a basement or basement can be created below.
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Features of the construction of houses made of laminated veneer lumber with a terrace
At the design stage, the customer’s basic wishes regarding the appearance and functionality of the terrace are determined - the parameters, equipment of the recreation area and the choice of building materials will depend on this. Next, the type of foundation is determined, taking into account that the weight of the house and the terrace will be different. After the foundation is poured, the installation of the house kit begins, laminated veneer lumber is laid: together with the construction of the walls of the house, the terrace frame is built. Then the roof is laid - the roof of the terrace can be separate or combined with the house. Whether or not to install windows and doors on the terrace depends on the customer’s preferences, but most often the terrace is made open. At the last stage, they finish the floor and ceiling, external and internal walls, and cover the timber with varnish or paint. The terrace is decorated using landscape design.
