Challenges of Split Level House Renovations
Dan Fritschen asked:
Split level house renovations bring both unique opportunities and unique challenges. The first step in evaluating the opportunities and challenges is understanding what type of split level you plan to renovate. There are essentially five types of split level house designs:
1. Split Foyer or Bi-Level - Composed of two levels, with the entry on a level midway between the two floors. A short flight of stairs (usually 4-8) goes up and another short flight of stairs goes down. If the lower level of the house is built level with the ground, there will be stairs to the entrance. The lower level may be at least partly below ground level.
2. Split Level - This type has either three or four levels and two or three short sets of stairs. The entrance is usually on a middle level and opens directly into a formal living room.
3. Stacked Split Level - The stacked type has five or more levels with four or five short sets of stairs. The entry is on a middle floor, usually opening to a foyer with stairs going both up and down. The name is derived from the fact that additional bedrooms are “stacked” on top of the second living area. Many townhouses are of this type.
4. Split Entry - The entry to this type of house is between floors and is usually located in an entry area off the main house. Like the split foyer, steps lead both up and down from the entry.
5. Raised Ranch - This type of split level has two levels with a full flight of stairs and the entry into the lower floor. The living area is generally on the top floor, accessible by a staircase close to the entry.
Split Level Homes were very popular in the 1950s, particularly in the East and the Midwest. The house design is an adaptation that works well in construction of a house on uneven property. The house can be built into the side of a hill or slope very easily. These homes were designed to separate living areas from sleeping areas and to provide formal and informal living areas. They offer more privacy and quiet. Disadvantages include uneven heating and cooling and many stairs. The heating and cooling challenge can be met by installing a zoned system. The number of stairs can be a particular challenge for the elderly and disabled. The challenge can, however, be met by installing a glide chair.
Other limitations of the type of design include a lower level laundry room, no main level bathroom, shared bathroom on the upper floor with the bedrooms, and a lack of openness in the living area (particularly as compared to many contemporary designs).
Remodeling challenges specific to Split Level Homes are:
o Great care must be exercised in opening up the formal living area regarding weight-bearing walls
o Many split levels have small rooms
o The steps between levels cannot be removed
o It is difficult to create a defined entry area
o Moving the location of the kitchen makes this type of renovation expensive
o It can be difficult to add a level to some types of split levels without losing balance and external appeal
Most of these challenges can be overcome with creative thinking, careful planning, and detailed attention to the design. For the most part, it is best to accept and work with the basic floor plan and modify access, flow between rooms, and a feeling of openness. It is also usually a bad idea to try to add another floor to a split level or to add on to the length of the existing house.
Split level house renovations bring both unique opportunities and unique challenges. The first step in evaluating the opportunities and challenges is understanding what type of split level you plan to renovate. There are essentially five types of split level house designs:
1. Split Foyer or Bi-Level - Composed of two levels, with the entry on a level midway between the two floors. A short flight of stairs (usually 4-8) goes up and another short flight of stairs goes down. If the lower level of the house is built level with the ground, there will be stairs to the entrance. The lower level may be at least partly below ground level.
2. Split Level - This type has either three or four levels and two or three short sets of stairs. The entrance is usually on a middle level and opens directly into a formal living room.
3. Stacked Split Level - The stacked type has five or more levels with four or five short sets of stairs. The entry is on a middle floor, usually opening to a foyer with stairs going both up and down. The name is derived from the fact that additional bedrooms are “stacked” on top of the second living area. Many townhouses are of this type.
4. Split Entry - The entry to this type of house is between floors and is usually located in an entry area off the main house. Like the split foyer, steps lead both up and down from the entry.
5. Raised Ranch - This type of split level has two levels with a full flight of stairs and the entry into the lower floor. The living area is generally on the top floor, accessible by a staircase close to the entry.
Split Level Homes were very popular in the 1950s, particularly in the East and the Midwest. The house design is an adaptation that works well in construction of a house on uneven property. The house can be built into the side of a hill or slope very easily. These homes were designed to separate living areas from sleeping areas and to provide formal and informal living areas. They offer more privacy and quiet. Disadvantages include uneven heating and cooling and many stairs. The heating and cooling challenge can be met by installing a zoned system. The number of stairs can be a particular challenge for the elderly and disabled. The challenge can, however, be met by installing a glide chair.
Other limitations of the type of design include a lower level laundry room, no main level bathroom, shared bathroom on the upper floor with the bedrooms, and a lack of openness in the living area (particularly as compared to many contemporary designs).
Remodeling challenges specific to Split Level Homes are:
o Great care must be exercised in opening up the formal living area regarding weight-bearing walls
o Many split levels have small rooms
o The steps between levels cannot be removed
o It is difficult to create a defined entry area
o Moving the location of the kitchen makes this type of renovation expensive
o It can be difficult to add a level to some types of split levels without losing balance and external appeal
Most of these challenges can be overcome with creative thinking, careful planning, and detailed attention to the design. For the most part, it is best to accept and work with the basic floor plan and modify access, flow between rooms, and a feeling of openness. It is also usually a bad idea to try to add another floor to a split level or to add on to the length of the existing house.
February 18, 2010
Split Level House Renovations
Dan Fritschen asked:
The most popular Split Level house renovations are projects to finish unfinished or partly finished areas, opening up the main floor, updating the kitchen, adding bathrooms to the main (formal living area) floor and to the upper level (bedrooms area).
Many people want to create more openness in the main floor of a split level, which usually consists of living room, dining room, kitchen and possibly a bedroom. Openness can certainly be achieved by removing some of the walls between rooms. You will need to be sure you know which walls are load-bearing walls. For example, you might want more openness between the kitchen and the dining room. Either removing the wall or replacing the wall with a counter will open up the area and feel more spacious. Removing the wall between the living room and dining room can also open up the area and make it more conducive to entertaining.
It is not uncommon for split level homes with four levels to have an unfinished bottom level. Finishing this area is really no different from finishing any basement. It will be important, however, to check on ceiling height early in the planning stages of the project. A number of split level homes have lower ceilings on the bottom floor.
The desire to add a bathroom to any home is quite common. Split levels often offer two important opportunities for bathroom additions. First, most split level homes were not built with a bathroom on the main (formal living area) floor. Many homeowners would like to add at least a half-bath or powder room on the main floor for the comfort and convenience of guests or for elderly or disabled family members. Determining the location of the new bathroom is a challenge in most split levels. Logic and cost-consciousness would suggest locating the new bathroom near (next to, above or below) existing plumbing. This allows you to use existing supply and removal pipes. Depending on the floor plan, however, this might not be workable. Location of pipes to a new bathroom on the main floor will also require some attention to the ceiling height of the floor below (if there is one). If the lower level has typically lower ceilings, placement of plumbing might depend upon where you can run pipes without making the lower level unusable. You can get a quick estimate of the cost to finish a split-level homes basement at http://www.remodelestimates.com
Adding a bathroom on the bedroom level is also a very popular renovation to a split level. Many split level homes have only a shared bathroom on this floor. Other designs include a very small master bathroom. Whether your remodeling plan involves adding a second bathroom or enlarging a master bathroom, it will be necessary to sacrifice space somewhere on that floor. Again, you will probably want to try to build the new bathroom close to existing plumbing, if possible to reduce the amount of work required and to control the cost of your renovation. Enlarging a master bathroom in a split level will almost certainly require taking space from the bedroom. One solution might be a bump out or add an addition that spans both the bathroom and the master bedroom. The key to success for remodeling projects is to be organized - try getting an organizer like the one at http://www.remodelingorganizer.com
Although split level home designs present some unique challenges to remodelers, with a creative eye to design, careful planning, and attention to detail, most of the changes you might want to make are possible.
The most popular Split Level house renovations are projects to finish unfinished or partly finished areas, opening up the main floor, updating the kitchen, adding bathrooms to the main (formal living area) floor and to the upper level (bedrooms area).
Many people want to create more openness in the main floor of a split level, which usually consists of living room, dining room, kitchen and possibly a bedroom. Openness can certainly be achieved by removing some of the walls between rooms. You will need to be sure you know which walls are load-bearing walls. For example, you might want more openness between the kitchen and the dining room. Either removing the wall or replacing the wall with a counter will open up the area and feel more spacious. Removing the wall between the living room and dining room can also open up the area and make it more conducive to entertaining.
It is not uncommon for split level homes with four levels to have an unfinished bottom level. Finishing this area is really no different from finishing any basement. It will be important, however, to check on ceiling height early in the planning stages of the project. A number of split level homes have lower ceilings on the bottom floor.
The desire to add a bathroom to any home is quite common. Split levels often offer two important opportunities for bathroom additions. First, most split level homes were not built with a bathroom on the main (formal living area) floor. Many homeowners would like to add at least a half-bath or powder room on the main floor for the comfort and convenience of guests or for elderly or disabled family members. Determining the location of the new bathroom is a challenge in most split levels. Logic and cost-consciousness would suggest locating the new bathroom near (next to, above or below) existing plumbing. This allows you to use existing supply and removal pipes. Depending on the floor plan, however, this might not be workable. Location of pipes to a new bathroom on the main floor will also require some attention to the ceiling height of the floor below (if there is one). If the lower level has typically lower ceilings, placement of plumbing might depend upon where you can run pipes without making the lower level unusable. You can get a quick estimate of the cost to finish a split-level homes basement at http://www.remodelestimates.com
Adding a bathroom on the bedroom level is also a very popular renovation to a split level. Many split level homes have only a shared bathroom on this floor. Other designs include a very small master bathroom. Whether your remodeling plan involves adding a second bathroom or enlarging a master bathroom, it will be necessary to sacrifice space somewhere on that floor. Again, you will probably want to try to build the new bathroom close to existing plumbing, if possible to reduce the amount of work required and to control the cost of your renovation. Enlarging a master bathroom in a split level will almost certainly require taking space from the bedroom. One solution might be a bump out or add an addition that spans both the bathroom and the master bedroom. The key to success for remodeling projects is to be organized - try getting an organizer like the one at http://www.remodelingorganizer.com
Although split level home designs present some unique challenges to remodelers, with a creative eye to design, careful planning, and attention to detail, most of the changes you might want to make are possible.
February 7, 2010
Additions to Split Level Homes
Dan Fritschen asked:
Split Level Homes were designed and built to provide privacy, some separation of daily living activities, noise control, and spaciousness. To be sure, many split level homes have relatively small rooms, but this is not the case in all split level homes. The various types of split level home designs enabled builders to accommodate hills and slopes as they developed neighborhoods. Split Levels also accommodated the desire of homeowners to have a formal living area, a “recreation room” or informal living area, and to provide privacy and seclusion in the bedrooms.
Owners of split level homes frequently wish to add more living space or more accessible living space. For persons with disabilities and for the elderly, the number of short staircases can be very challenging. They are too steep for a ramp and too short for an elevator. Installation of a glide chair, however, is a reasonable option.
Positioning an addition is the major challenge in adding to a split level home. Some locations and neighborhoods restrict the height of houses. Local building codes might also restrict additions in one direction or another due to required set-backs from property lines. Further, the external appearance and curb appeal of the house may argue against some addition options.
“Here are the major considerations in building an addition to a split level home:
In general, do not add a new level
Do not add to the length of the “long dimension” of the house
If the “long dimension” of the house faces the street, build the addition in the back
If the “short dimension” of the house faces the street, build the addition with at least some of the addition to the side of the entry
Always match building materials as much as possible
Add a garage on the “downhill” side of the lot
If you must add to the “long dimension” of the house, add as little as possible
If you add to the “long dimension” of the house, make sure you balance windows and doors
If you add to the “long dimension” of the house, do so in a way that makes the two sides balanced in width and height
If you will add a new level to the house, build it above the lowest part of the room line to maintain balance and symmetry of roof lines
If your split level is designed so the roof can be raised over one level, add a dormer or two — it will provide additional living space, and it will make the addition look more planned
The unique challenges of adding living space in a split level home usually justify the time and cost of consulting an architect or designer. A badly placed or poorly designed addition can create an atrocity. An addition that is carefully placed, designed for balance and symmetry, and built carefully can actually enhance the appearance of a split level. Designing with an eye to the external appearance of the house, as well as creating the additional living space you need, will ensure a successful project that will increase the value of your home and maintain its “fit” in the neighborhood.
Copyright 2007 by ABCD Publishing
Split Level Homes were designed and built to provide privacy, some separation of daily living activities, noise control, and spaciousness. To be sure, many split level homes have relatively small rooms, but this is not the case in all split level homes. The various types of split level home designs enabled builders to accommodate hills and slopes as they developed neighborhoods. Split Levels also accommodated the desire of homeowners to have a formal living area, a “recreation room” or informal living area, and to provide privacy and seclusion in the bedrooms.
Owners of split level homes frequently wish to add more living space or more accessible living space. For persons with disabilities and for the elderly, the number of short staircases can be very challenging. They are too steep for a ramp and too short for an elevator. Installation of a glide chair, however, is a reasonable option.
Positioning an addition is the major challenge in adding to a split level home. Some locations and neighborhoods restrict the height of houses. Local building codes might also restrict additions in one direction or another due to required set-backs from property lines. Further, the external appearance and curb appeal of the house may argue against some addition options.
“Here are the major considerations in building an addition to a split level home:
In general, do not add a new level
Do not add to the length of the “long dimension” of the house
If the “long dimension” of the house faces the street, build the addition in the back
If the “short dimension” of the house faces the street, build the addition with at least some of the addition to the side of the entry
Always match building materials as much as possible
Add a garage on the “downhill” side of the lot
If you must add to the “long dimension” of the house, add as little as possible
If you add to the “long dimension” of the house, make sure you balance windows and doors
If you add to the “long dimension” of the house, do so in a way that makes the two sides balanced in width and height
If you will add a new level to the house, build it above the lowest part of the room line to maintain balance and symmetry of roof lines
If your split level is designed so the roof can be raised over one level, add a dormer or two — it will provide additional living space, and it will make the addition look more planned
The unique challenges of adding living space in a split level home usually justify the time and cost of consulting an architect or designer. A badly placed or poorly designed addition can create an atrocity. An addition that is carefully placed, designed for balance and symmetry, and built carefully can actually enhance the appearance of a split level. Designing with an eye to the external appearance of the house, as well as creating the additional living space you need, will ensure a successful project that will increase the value of your home and maintain its “fit” in the neighborhood.
Copyright 2007 by ABCD Publishing