What is better to choose: Cottage or Townhouse? Pros and cons of these houses on the Nedvio website

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For those who want to live outside the city, in an ecologically clean area, away from the bustle of the city, but at the same time do not have sufficient financial opportunity to purchase a full-fledged individual country house, a townhouse is an ideal option. This is a convenient, economical and comfortable option for residential construction for families with average incomes. You can learn more about what a townhouse is from this article.

A townhouse is a complex of two or three-story houses connected to each other

Townhouse: what is this multi-level structure

This building is translated from English as “city house”. A townhouse is a complex of multi-level apartments consisting of two or three floors that share common side walls. Such cottages are created in a single architectural style. Each house is an autonomous life support system and is intended for one family to live in. It has an individual entrance, a small plot of land and a garage. You can see what a townhouse looks like in numerous photos.

The classic townhouse has a simple and comfortable layout

Important! A townhouse can be part of a multi-format village where other real estate properties are located, or form independent villages filled exclusively with such multi-level apartments.

Understanding the question of what a townhouse is (the photos clearly show the building options) should be based on the history of the building. Such houses first appeared in the 19th century in England. The buildings belonged to aristocratic families, including high-ranking representatives of bourgeois society. Today, middle class people can afford townhouses. This is due to the low cost, since the construction of such apartments requires much less materials than the construction of a detached cottage, which is explained by the presence of common walls. In addition, a townhouse takes up much less space.

The standard layout of a townhouse includes a kitchen, living room, dining room located on the first floor, a bedroom, office and children's room on the second floor. On the third floor, which is mainly represented by an attic space, there is a bedroom or guest room. Each floor has a separate bathroom. A townhouse may have a basement. The large total living area of ​​150-300 m² allows for the implementation of various design ideas.

The first level is reserved for the kitchen, living room, study, utility room

What is more profitable to maintain: a townhouse or an apartment?

Don’t even dream that having a separate section in such a cottage will help you save on utility bills. You will have to pay much more for electricity, heating, gas and water supply here than in a city apartment. Who doesn’t want the area near their house to be landscaped, guarded and cleaned? But you also have to pay for these services. Who will do it? That's right, homeowners! These advantages of townhouses are at the same time their disadvantages.

Counters are required for everything here. And this is a plus in this case. Currently, many engineering systems are “smart”. Owners can increase or decrease the heating power in the room themselves.

Despite the fact that all the amenities in a townhouse are approximately the same as in a regular apartment, communications here are arranged in the same way as in villages outside the city. The exception is townhouses that are adjacent to residential complexes consisting of apartment buildings. The developer creates a non-profit partnership. Therefore, tariffs for water and electricity can be very high.

In a townhouse, as well as in a private house, during its operation you will have to independently carry out repairs, painting, mowing the lawn, etc. The significant difference between an apartment in an apartment building and a townhouse is that the bulk of the work on maintaining the housing stock is carried out by management company.

Future owners of a townhouse should also take into account transportation costs, which will be included in the cost of maintaining the property. If it is located outside the city, you need a car, or better yet several, for each family member. To this we must add the cost of gasoline. Of course, it will take some time to get home, but traffic jams on country roads are rare. And numerous traffic jams in the city are common. Owners of city apartments are familiar with this.

In both cases, the funds and time needed for travel will be approximately the same. But owners of townhouses will have a pleasant time on the road, and owners of apartments in a multi-story building will regularly languish in endless traffic jams.

What is a townhouse: an overview of building modifications

Having understood the question of what a townhouse is (the photos clearly show the appearance of the building), you can consider the existing modifications of this multi-level complex.

A lawnhouse (translated as “house in an alley”) is a complex of two- or three-story buildings that have different architecture and interior decoration. Each house has its own entrance, garage and land. Such buildings form a network of alleys, which is why they got their name.

A townhouse for 2 families is represented by a duplex. This is a residential complex consisting of two multi-storey buildings, which are connected by one common wall. This building is intended to accommodate two families. A twinhouse is similar in structure and purpose to a duplex; two families can also live in it. However, such buildings differ in that the first option is represented by two separate houses with different architectures, having a common wall, which is reflected in the two-family townhouse projects.

Quadrohouse is a multi-storey complex designed to accommodate four families. Viletta is a kind of townhouse. However, the building is characterized by a more original architectural design, involving the use of arches, attics, terraces and land plots. Britishhouses are created strictly in the English style. The facade of such buildings is finished with terracotta bricks, giving the structure sophistication. This complex belongs to the elite class segment.

A townhouse for 3 families is connected by common walls, but each house has a separate entrance

How is it different from duplex?

A duplex is a country house divided into two halves by a common wall. Designed to accommodate two families. Has a lot in common with a townhouse. But these buildings also have distinctive features. The main ones are shown in the table below.

Duplex for two families

The cost of duplexes is higher. This is due to the peculiarities of their construction. When building duplexes, less money is spent on installing utilities.

What is a townhouse: how is it different from a house or apartment?

Is a townhouse a house or an apartment? This structure combines these two concepts, but has distinctive features in which numerous advantages of the structure are visible. First of all, it is a relatively low cost compared to the price of a country house. This is due to the fact that the building occupies a small plot of land. Its construction requires fewer materials, since adjacent houses have a common wall, roads and utilities.

The cost of 1 m² in a townhouse is similar to the prices for housing in an apartment. It should also be noted that there are reduced operating costs compared to maintaining a country house.

The living area in a townhouse exceeds this value for an apartment in a multi-storey building, but is slightly smaller than that of a detached cottage. This makes it possible to organize individual functional areas, spending less money on their design.

Townhouses have an individual plot of land, albeit a small one. However, this territory is enough to arrange a recreation area with a barbecue, sun lounger or gazebo. There are options with a small pool.

Townhouses are becoming increasingly popular because they are very affordable housing.

In most cases, design projects are created for townhouses with a garage, which is located on the ground floor. If there is no such room, an individual parking space is created in front of the house.

Townhouse villages were built in ecologically clean suburban areas with unique landscaping, remote from industrial and gas-polluted areas. Individual security guards of the village maintain order in the area.

When considering the question of how a townhouse differs from a house, one cannot help but mention the only significant drawback of the first. This is the presence of neighbors with whom you will in any case have to cooperate in resolving common issues related to building repairs, landscaping the territory or solving other problems.

Townhouses have small individual plots near each entrance

Townhouse or apartment: legal details of the transaction

Let's consider some legal aspects of such a transaction as the purchase of housing in a townhouse. This property should be registered as shared ownership. A townhouse is a building divided into sections, each of which is sold to a specific owner. Before concluding a deal, you need to pay attention to the documents relating to land ownership. The owner of a separate section is not always the owner of the land that is adjacent to it.

In domestic legislation there is no such concept - a townhouse. An apartment in an ordinary multi-storey building is registered as a property in exactly the same way as this housing. The HOA is the owner of the land on which the townhouse is built. Therefore, owners of townhouses can improve the territory adjacent to them, but they are prohibited from building permanent structures there.

Each residential complex has its own rules, which it is advisable to familiarize yourself with in advance. There is often a ban on changing the architecture of a building or the area adjacent to the house. Or, for example, you can plant flowers or install a bench, but not a fence. How to competently sell real estate in a townhouse? First of all, inform the other owners about this; they have priority in this matter. If there are no people willing to buy your section, you can make a deal with an ordinary buyer.

What is the difference between a townhouse and a cottage and penthouse?

Although a townhouse and a penthouse are designed for discerning owners, the buildings differ significantly from each other. The first option is a suburban building with separate entrances for each apartment. The townhouse has a garden plot and a garage.

A penthouse is a mansion that is located on the upper levels of a multi-story building. There are also separate entrances for each apartment, but they are located inside the building. The windows offer a beautiful panoramic view. Sometimes the project provides for a helicopter or observation deck. In terms of comfort (based on reviews from the owners), a townhouse is not inferior to a penthouse. However, the cost of housing will be several times lower.

The cottage is a detached multi-storey building, which also has its own garden area and garage. However, due to the creation of an individual project, the cost of 1 m² is significantly higher than that of a townhouse. Issues related to housing and communal services will have to be resolved independently, this is especially important if the house is located in a remote location.

A townhouse has a relatively small area of ​​the house itself and the plot compared to a cottage

Inconveniences can be created by unpredictable neighbors, who are old residents of the village, dictating their own rules and way of life in the area. With a townhouse, this problem is eliminated, since young families with a high level of income move into the house. They keep up with the times, striving for coziness and comfort.

The main differences between townhouses and cottages

The popularity of townhouses in the suburban housing market is growing every year. What are the key differences between these two types?

(1) Townhouses are cheaper . The price of a townhouse can be reduced by saving resources when combining several houses. A detached house will cost more;

(2) Townhouses have lower operating costs . Housing and communal services relieve residents of townhouses from everyday worries for a reasonable fee, and the owner of the cottage has to do all this on his own;

(3) Cottage owners are more independent in everyday life . They do not know the problems of heating networks. Heating and hot water supply are their headache. This autonomy makes life easier, but increases costs;

(4) It is almost impossible to make an individual project in a townhouse . The sections of the townhouse are connected not only by common walls and roof, but also by a single architectural style. Their owners can show their imagination only when decorating the interior. The owner of the cottage is not limited by anything. He can implement any projects both for the facade of the building and for the rooms;

(5) Cottage owners have personal space . It is impossible to fence the area adjacent to the townhouse, since it is common property. But it’s impossible to imagine a cottage without such an attribute;

(6) Individual houses have unlimited parking for vehicles . The owner of the townhouse has a garage or parking space. You will have to pay separately for additional space. On private property, the number of parking spaces is limited only by the size of the site, and not by established standards;

(7) Cottages have a larger area, you can build additional ones. the buildings . A private house is accompanied by a plot of land on which you can retire, set up a garden, make landscape design, place a gazebo, bathhouse and other outbuildings. And on the territory assigned to a townhouse, it is unlikely that you can even create a garden. Its dimensions most often allow you to make a flower garden and install a barbecue and a children's swing;

(8) Lack of infrastructure . A common disadvantage of these two types of housing is their remoteness from transport stops, schools, 24-hour shopping centers and highways;

(9) Privacy in the cottage is much higher . On private territory you can walk your dog, sunbathe in a swimsuit, organize parties and sing karaoke. The owner of a townhouse can only dream of such a right to privacy; they are forced to reckon with their neighbors.

The final choice of one option or another, in any case, will depend on financial capabilities and personal preferences.

Features of the interior design of a townhouse

When planning the design of a townhouse, certain structural features should be taken into account, which is primarily due to the multi-level nature of the premises. Here it is important to properly plan the area in order to ultimately get a comfortable, convenient and practical environment.

The most appropriate solution is to purchase a townhouse during the construction phase. In this case, it is possible to make adjustments to the layout of the premises, which in the future will help in the design of the future interior. When the facility is put into operation, all desired changes will need to obtain approval from the relevant authorities with payment for services.

The first floor is devoted primarily to premises common to all family members, in the form of a dining room, living room, hallway and kitchen, the design of which is shown in the townhouse plan. On the second floor there are individual rooms: an office, a bedroom and a nursery. In the attic room, it is recommended to organize a dressing room, a gym, a billiard room, or install a home theater in it. If the family has children of different ages, you can also arrange a bedroom for the older child.

The attic is reserved for a home theater, dressing room or recreation room

Helpful advice! If elderly or disabled people live in the house, you should equip a bedroom for them on the first floor.

The exterior and interior of a townhouse (photos clearly demonstrate this) should be made in a single stylistic direction or similar in spirit. In this case, it will be possible to create a harmonious environment. However, you should not limit yourself to one style when decorating the interior space of a townhouse. Each level can be completed in a specific concept. It is important that there is a common thread that harmoniously unites all the functional areas of a residential building into one exhibition.

Utilities deserve special attention when designing the premises of a townhouse. Numerous pipelines and heating radiators will have to be disguised or harmoniously integrated into the overall interior. However, it should be remembered that any option that involves masking communications should not negatively affect the microclimate of the room, worsening temperature and humidity conditions.

When planning the interior design for a townhouse, you should take into account some features, first of all, the multi-level space and vertical functionality

Townhouse projects for two families depending on financial capabilities

A two-family townhouse is called a duplex. Both parts of the house have the same interior and exterior design. The construction of such houses is carried out on the basis of one of the standard townhouse projects for 2 families:

• the house has one common entrance, and the internal usable area is divided into two separate living areas;
• the house has two separate entrances, which are located on opposite sides.

Important! The plot of a duplex can be divided into two areas of the same size, separated from each other by a fence, or be common to both families.

A townhouse project for 2 families can be developed depending on financial capabilities. There are luxury and economy class buildings. Residential complexes of the second option are characterized by the presence of a small living area. As a rule, these are one-story houses built from laminated veneer lumber using frame technology. The layout of the interior space consists of a minimum number of rooms: living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom.

Layout of a townhouse with a two-family garage

Important! One half of an economy duplex is a mirror image of the other.

A luxury duplex is a multi-level complex consisting of two or three floors. For its construction, more expensive building materials are used using frame technology, which is carried out on the basis of a townhouse project for 2 families with separate entrances. On the ground floor there are auxiliary premises in the form of a living room, kitchen and utility rooms. The second floor includes living rooms. The duplex involves placing a closed terrace, a sauna and a billiard room.

On a personal plot you can equip a common children's playground, a recreation area with a gazebo and barbecue, or equip a swimming pool.

Related article:

Cottage: photos of attractive country houses in different styles

Rules for drafting a project. Important details, design tips. Standard and original design approach.

Projects of townhouses for 3 families with separate entrances

Three-family townhouses are not very popular. However, there are cases when several families of close relatives want to live under one roof, but have autonomy from each other.

Houses for three families have their own design features. There are projects of townhouses for 3 families with separate entrances. In this case, the house is represented by a block-type building, consisting of three identical parts, which can be located in one row under one roof. Each house has a separate entrance, which is located on the front or back side. In this case, the local area is located behind the house. It can be common or divided into separate independent zones.

Townhouse projects for three families have a free interior layout

The house sometimes has an asymmetrical, non-trivial configuration with exits in different directions from the ends of the building. In this case, the adjacent area is located opposite the entrance to the townhouse.

Other options for townhouse projects for 3 families involve one common entrance, which is usually located on the back or front side of the building. Next, a common corridor opens with three branches leading to individual apartments.

The construction of a triplex allows you to significantly save money. On a plot of 6 acres, you can place a one-story block building 30 m long and up to 300 m² in area. In this case, there is room for a local area and a small vegetable garden.

If a two-story building is provided, it will occupy an area of ​​no more than 150 m². Its length can reach only 15-20 m. The cost of a common roof and foundation will be much cheaper than for three separate buildings. The presence of common walls allows you to save not only on their construction, but also on heating the house.

Townhouse project for 3 families with garage

Important! Two-story triplexes with one entrance allow you to save free land area by 40-45%, which helps create a spacious local area.

Features of townhouse projects for 4 families

Quad house is the latest housing format, which is gradually gaining popularity. This complex is designed to accommodate four families. When designing such a house, a vertical layout of the premises is used. Load-bearing walls are made thicker than others. They are placed crosswise relative to each other, intersecting in the center. This design feature allows you to increase the level of noise insulation in the house. As numerous reviews indicate, life in a four-family townhouse is comfortable and convenient.

Each quad-house has its own entrance, which is located on a separate side of the square building, which ensures complete independence. Maximum isolation is maintained here. Massive wall structures can provide complete silence.

The multi-level nature of a townhouse for 4 families provides the opportunity to experiment with style, choosing for each level the most comfortable one for the inhabitants of the house

External and internal finishing of quad houses is carried out mainly with siding. This non-toxic polymer material is characterized by resistance to combustion, mechanical damage, high thermal insulation properties, durability, ease of maintenance and affordable cost. Thanks to the reliability and strength of the material, the facade is able to withstand any natural disasters.

The layout of townhouses for four families assumes the presence of an entrance hall, a spacious hall, a bathroom, a boiler room, a kitchen, a living room and other technical premises on the ground floor, and recreation rooms on the second. The third floor is represented by an attic room with an open layout. Some house designs include only a kitchen and living room on the ground floor, while a spacious hall and rest rooms with separate bathrooms occupy the second floor.

Each owner of a quad-house has his own plot of land, which is located at the end of the building, where an individual place for recreation can be organized.

In townhouse projects, vertical layout of premises is most often used

Townhouse interior design

Experts recommend that the interior design be made in the same style as the exterior of the building. Also, when arranging premises, it is necessary to take into account engineering communications, which will need to be masked as much as possible and harmoniously, and at the same time ensure free access to them. When decorating the interior, you need to take into account the preferences of all family members, as well as the layout features. At the same time, everything in a townhouse should be not only beautiful, but also functional.

What to look for when buying a townhouse

1. Availability and quality of all utilities (gas, water, heat and electricity);
2. telecommunications;
3. layout;
4. materials used in the construction of the building;
5. the presence of developed social infrastructure nearby;
6. ecological situation;
7. proximity to busy railways and highways;
8. access roads and distance from the city.

If the purchase is made during the construction stage of the box, you need to carefully study the project documentation and check the reputation of the developer.

New townhouses: what are multi-family houses built from?

Today, multi-level apartments are built mainly using frame technology from SIP panels. This material is a three-layer board, which is presented on the outside with OSB-3 sheets with an inner layer of insulation, which is polystyrene foam. This simple design has a number of advantages. The panels are mounted using the tongue-and-groove principle, which makes it possible to obtain a strong and reliable frame. To ensure a high-quality connection, a traditional wooden beam with a thickness of 80 mm is used.

The material is quite light. The assembled structure with an area of ​​150-200 m2 will weigh only 15 tons. This will allow the construction of a lightweight, inexpensive foundation. The construction of a house from SIP panels can be carried out by several people without the involvement of heavy equipment. The work is completed as quickly as possible, which usually does not exceed two weeks.

For load-bearing walls, according to townhouse projects made from SIP panels, slabs with a thickness of 160-170 mm are used, which in terms of thermal conductivity are similar to brickwork with a thickness of 2.4 m. The material does not emit carcinogens, resins and other harmful substances. It does not serve as a medium for the growth of bacteria and fungus, and is not attacked by insects and rodents.

New townhouses are being built using frame technology from SIP panels

Construction of townhouses: traditional materials for construction

Some townhouse projects involve the construction of a brick structure. This is a reliable, practical, environmentally friendly and easy-to-install material. The main advantage is the ability to work with it in any weather, which significantly reduces construction time. Disadvantages include low energy efficiency and a high likelihood of further shrinkage. A brick house with insufficient wall thickness needs to create a layer of insulation.

Important! The brick structure is characterized by heavy weight, which requires the construction of a solid foundation with good load-bearing capacity.

Monolithic construction is the most expensive technology, which is used primarily to create the frame of a house. Internal walls are constructed from brick or other “living” materials. Monolithic buildings, in comparison with brick houses, have less weight, which allows the construction of multi-tiered townhouses.

Most often, newly built townhouses are built from environmentally friendly and reliable material - brick

To create economy class townhouses, cellular concrete is used. The material is characterized by the presence of a large number of pores, due to which, with a minimum thickness and weight of the walls, good ventilation and thermal insulation are provided. The main disadvantage of the material is its excessive sensitivity to climatic conditions. It will not be possible to build a house in the cold and high humidity.

Metal tiles, which require a layer of insulation, are used as roofing material in townhouse projects. Copper roofing and natural tiles will cost significantly more, but they are characterized by durability and a presentable appearance. An inexpensive but reliable material for roofing a townhouse is roofing felt.

Turnkey townhouse renovation: work order

The arrangement of a finished house begins with the development of a design project for a townhouse, the cost of which is determined by its execution option depending on the complexity. It provides planning and technological solutions, and also forms a general concept for the design of premises, which is determined by the chosen stylistic direction.

It is better to implement the interior and exterior of a townhouse in one stylistic solution, thereby creating a harmonious living environment

Here, options for planning and finishing of premises, arrangement of furniture, plumbing equipment, lighting and decoration are developed. A list of necessary materials, plumbing equipment and lighting system elements is being compiled.

Particular attention is paid to the finishing of the staircase, which is one of the main and necessary elements of a multi-level townhouse. The design of the element should be harmoniously combined with the overall interior design of the house.

Next, based on the developed design project, repair work is carried out in all premises. Their labor intensity and nature depend on the form in which the house is put into operation. If only rough finishing of the room elements has been completed, the renovation starts from scratch. This is the most suitable option, since it makes it possible to plan and decorate the apartment based on the customer’s personal preferences using high-quality materials.

The most advantageous interior of a townhouse looks in the following styles: minimalism, loft, contemporary, chalet, Provence and country

The finished townhouse is fully prepared for decoration. However, if the customer does not like the layout or finishing of certain of its elements, it is possible to carry out a major overhaul with prior dismantling, which will require significant financial costs. If the townhouse apartment has been renovated, it is fully prepared for housewarming. However, this is not a very good option, since the developer often uses low-quality materials when performing repair and finishing work, which unjustifiably increases the cost of the house.

A full-scale turnkey renovation of a townhouse (the photos clearly show this) includes the necessary list of façade and roofing works. Thanks to this, it will be possible not only to transform the appearance of the building, but also to provide it with reliable protection from adverse environmental factors, which will extend the period of its successful operation.

Features of townhouse design projects

A townhouse is characterized by the presence of large living areas, which provide endless possibilities for planning and arranging space in order to increase the functionality of the premises. Here you can experiment with planning, composition and style solutions, choosing the most suitable option that will satisfy the needs of all family members. Thanks to computer visualization, you can see the house after renovation and furnishing, which will allow you to identify and correct all possible shortcomings.

The design project of a townhouse must be drawn up taking into account all the requirements and features

When planning the interior design of a townhouse inside (the photos clearly show the different options), you should take into account the structural features that are caused by the multi-level premises. Each apartment has 2-3 floors, its own entrance, attic and basement with garage and utility rooms. The main task is the expedient distribution of premises within the boundaries of each vertical design.

As a rule, a new townhouse has an open plan. This makes it possible to install partitions anywhere, which is determined by the configuration and purpose of the room. Particular attention is paid to numerous engineering communications. It is necessary to think in detail about how to disguise or decorate them so as not to affect their functional qualities.

Townhouses mostly have large panoramic windows, through which a lot of natural light enters the house. The rooms on the second floor have French balconies. The living space is arranged around an inter-level staircase, vertically connecting zones of different functionality. This element can either dissolve in the overall interior or become dominant, defining the overall design concept of the house.

Thanks to the multi-level construction, you can safely experiment with the interior style. You can choose an individual design for each floor.

The newly built townhouse has an open layout and makes it possible to install partitions anywhere

Important! When combining different directions in the interior design of a townhouse, the main task is to create a single, harmonious and comfortable living space.