Do you own a piece of land that is uneven that you want to build a house on? Your best option is to incorporate split-level home designs, which come together as tri-level homes. If you don’t know what a split-level home is, we have summed up everything about them from its beginning to its many advantages. So, keep reading to find out. 

Origins 

The split home design gained popularity in the 1950s as a multi-level variation on the already popular single-story country or town house. Split-level house designs have the same angled roofs, horizontal lines, and drooping eaves as ranch house plans, but they have a double-story unit separated in the middle resulting in three levels of internal space. But what does a split-level home look like? 

Split Level Homes 

Basically, split-level homes have levels that are staggered. 

This usually means that you’ll be welcomed by a staircase leading up to the bedrooms and another leading down to the basement when you go in the front door. Split-level floor designs typically contain a one-story segment linked to a two-story section, with garages nestled beneath the living area. 

Types Of Split-level Homes 

There are 4 kinds of split-level homes. Let’s jump into the details: 

Sidesplit 

You can see the multiple levels of a side split house from the front exterior. The garage is usually on one side of the home, and the bedrooms are on a floor above the garage. The main living area, which is one level above the garage level and one level below the bedroom level, takes up the other half of the house. The outdoor street is connected to the front entrance on the main floor via grading or steps. 

Side splits provide the advantage of separating bedrooms from the living area without requiring an entire flight of steps. It takes up more land space than a two-story home but is more economical than a bungalow. 

Most side splits feature a loft half the size of the home, ensuring that both parts of the split level house have the same foundation. Others might have a divided foundation, with a complete basement beneath the main living space. 

Backsplit 

A back split level house looks like an average single-story ranch from the front exterior. You can tell the levels either from the side or back of the house.  

Stacked split 

4 or 5 short sets of stairs and 5 or 6 levels make up the stacked split level. The entrance is located on the middle floor, halfway between two levels. The entrance opens into a lobby where 2 sets of stairs lead you to a basement on the lower level, and the other set of stairs leads you to the living area, where you would normally find the living room and kitchen.  

On top of the living area, another short flight of stairs usually leads to a bedroom. The phrase “stacked split level” comes from the fact that additional bedrooms are frequently “stacked” on top of the second living area. Townhouses are commonly constructed in this manner. 

Bi-Level 

A split level house with 2 levels and 2 sets of stairs is called a bi-level. The entrance is on the second floor. A landing is accessible from the front door. The top floor is reached via a short flight of stairs; the bottom floor is reached via another small set of stairs. 

All the rooms, including bedrooms, bathrooms, living room, kitchen, and dining room, are on the upper floor and usually have full height ceilings. Lower floors may have lower ceilings and are partly underground. 

However, the lower floor of many modern split-foyer residences is on a slope, necessitating the use of an external stairway to access the front entrance. In order to support the home’s HVAC ducts, these homes frequently have exceptionally high ceilings on the bottom floor. 

A garage is connected to the front of a customised bi-level residence rather than underneath it. The front entrance is larger, with space for large parties and a closet. (This improvement addresses the most common criticism regarding the small front entry area.) The front entry is also accessible from the garage. The installation of a second storey above the garage is accomplished by a third short flight of stairs leading from the large room space to extra bedrooms or a master suite. 

Benefits Of Split Level Homes 

There are many benefits of a split-level style home, especially if you are a growing family.  

• One iconic part about split level homes is that the basements are just above ground level, letting in a lot of light, which is why they are sometimes called “daylight basements.”  
• Split-level homes are economical. Because the many floors are stacked, the house has a smaller dimension. Therefore, some of the most expensive components of a home, such as the foundations and ceiling, are less than they would be in a bungalow or townhouse. A split house design is an excellent bargain when we talk about space, especially for a growing family. 
• A split-level home provides more space separation for families than a single floor plan. This decreases the likelihood of noise passing between rooms and increases seclusion. 
• They have a lot of outside areas. Because split-level homes make the most of vertical space, there is usually a lot of yard area for outside fun activities. 
• Full-depth basements are anticipated to flood in several regions due to increasing groundwater levels. As split level houses have basements partly under the ground, they are ideal for such areas. 

In Conclusion 

While there are a few drawbacks of a split level design home, like remodelling, it can be very difficult, if even possible. It is also difficult to sell a split design house as some people consider it old fashioned; however, the evolution of split-level house layouts has been remarkable. Split-level floor plans are currently available in various aesthetically pleasing designs and are constructed in modern, Victorian, or Country styles. 

So, if you own uneven land or are looking to buy one, there is no need to fret; you can build a perfectly good, stylish, and modern split-level home, ideal for your family.