You have many house styles to choose from when building your own house. One of the most famous styles is the hiker. A labyrinthine house is all on one floor. This style became very popular after World War II as soldiers returned home and housing became more affordable. The ranch house has been around for years but is still very useful and will remain for years to come.

The ranch-style home has many advantages and several disadvantages. You’ll want to understand this before you decide to build a ranch-style home.

The ranch house takes up more lot space than a two-story house would for a house of the same size. This means you will have less yard. Many people consider this a disadvantage, while others consider it an advantage. It depends on how you look at a small yard size. If you don’t like gardening and playing outside, then a smaller yard is an advantage. If you like to work outdoors, then it can be seen as a disadvantage. Most neighborhoods have parks and schools nearby, so a large yard is not needed for recreation.

Another plus for a hiker is the lack of stairs. You may not consider it an advantage now, but what if your sick mother came to stay with you or if you had a new baby? These people have trouble with stairs and it may be to your advantage to have the whole room on the same floor.

Also, a promenade is usually rectangular or L-shaped. This means that most places are very close. Getting around quickly is much easier on a hiker. If you want to stay away from children for a few hours, you can consider it a disadvantage.

Another advantage of the hiking-style house is that the rooms tend to be larger and the floor plan is very airy. With the kitchen, dining room, family room, and bonus room on the same floor, you can create larger rooms that tie into other rooms. Some people enjoy this type of floor plan because it’s easier to attract more people into the home for parties and entertaining.

The hiker is also cheaper to build in some circumstances. As you add floors to a building, so do the complexity and design issues. The basic rambler has a very simple design, so no special engineering or materials are needed. This allows the house to be built faster and cheaper.

This also means that maintenance is cheaper. If you’ve tried to wash the outside window on the second floor, you’ll understand. Hanging siding is cheaper on a walker and most other maintenance activities. You won’t have to have a very tall ladder to hang your Christmas lights if you only live in a one-story house.

Heating and cooling costs tend to be cheaper compared to other homes. The entire roof can be insulated and the air is kept on one floor. Two-story homes often have multiple units to service the different floors. The heat will rise and you will have to constantly try to cool the upper floors or heat the lower floors. Maintaining a single insulated floor is much easier and cheaper.

In short, many people find the hiker to be a boring design. Others think that it does not look as good as other houses. You will have to decide what best suits you and your needs. The hiker can have costs, benefits and detractors. However, it has been very useful for years and will continue to be used for years to come.