Is It Cheaper to Build a House Upward?

When you want to expand the living space, one important question is: is it cheaper to build a house upward instead of outward?
Since building upward and building outward are the only options for expansion, you need to make sure your option is right. Generally, building upward is viewed as a cheaper option, but it is not always the case, since each option has characteristics. Know both the upsides and downsides of building upward and outward before deciding which one you will choose.

Differences between Building Upward and Outward

Answering the question of is it cheaper to build a house upward, here are the upsides and downsides of building upward and outward, compared side by side:

• You can reduce traffic patterns in the house compared to building outward, because the walking distance diminishes in a house that is built upward, but the risk of falling becomes bigger.
• You can get cheaper price per square-foot, but the construction will require you to stand the builders, since they will be around the house. If the project is quite big, you probably need to stay in another place for a while.
• You get more freedom when choosing flooring materials (especially if you love designing your own house), because you do not need to match the entire flooring patterns.
• You get more privacy with second story or more, but the extra story means you must add additional structures for support. However, building outward also means that you need an extra digging for the foundation, which is quite expensive (especially in areas with difficult soil).
• Building upward is great if you live in areas with limited living space (such as in the city or suburban area), but building outward means you have easier extra works to do such as drywall work, plastering, and painting.

After comparing all these factors, is it cheaper to build a house upward?

Considerations before Building Cheap House Upward

Generally, building upward is considered cheaper than building outward, if you count the price per square-foot. However, there are other things to consider when it comes to building houses. For example, if you build upward, but adding expensive features and equipment, the price of course will skyrocket. Also, consider the fact that you have more limited space to build a porch, yard, patio terrace, sun terrace, swimming pool, and other features when you build upward. Therefore, if you ask is it cheaper to build a house upward, it will come back to what features you add and how you want your house to look like.