Last Updated on March 25, 2024

What is a 1.5 Story House? | Edmonton Real Estate Definition

By Alan F Macdonald

What is a 1.5 Story House? | Edmonton Real Estate Definition

What is a 1.5 Story House?

A one-and-a-half story house, or 1.5-story house, is a detached home that has a second floor that is about half the size of the main floor, but is off to one side. This style could also simply be called a “half story house”.

Real Estate Agent Explains 1.5 Stories

1.5-story houses are not the same as semi-bungalows, although it is easy to mix them up. The difference here is that 1.5-story houses do no have a second floor in the attic, but have a true second floor, it’s just not as large as the main floor.

1.5 storey or one-and-a-half-storey house example

An example of a 1.5-story house with an attached side garage in Crestwood, Edmonton

How tall is a 1.5 story house? Well, one half is as tall as a bungalow, the other is as tall as a 2-story house. See how in the above photo that the second story is not as large as the main floor? But also, it is not sitting inside the peak of the roof as it would in a semi-bungalow, rather it has its own exterior. This is a perfect example of a 1.5-story house.

Diagram of a 1.5 story house

Why Does It Matter?

A 1.5-story house is not a bungalow, not a semi-bungalow and not a 2-story house. Why does that matter? Well, these distinctions let us know how the home is laid out. You might end up comparing many homes that are the exact same size, different formats affect how you live, enjoy or maintain your home. 1.5-story homes have a smaller upstairs area than a 2-story with the same footprint. That can mean smaller bedrooms, no ensuite bathroom, or smaller closets. But it can also mean a very large living room and kitchen. All layouts are different, but these formats or styles help us understand what the limitations of the home are.

Like this content? Check out more Edmonton real estate terms

AboutAlan F Macdonald

Alan F Macdonald is a real estate agent with Maxwell Challenge Realty in Edmonton, Alberta.

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