Why You Don‘t See Many Two-Story Houses in Florida
As a gaming enthusiast turned real estate analyst, I‘ve noticed Florida‘s landscape seems filled with sprawling one-story homes. Two-story houses dotted across other states seem rare in the Sunshine State. What gives? Are building two-story homes some forbidden ritual no one told transplants about?
Well, let‘s delve into the mystery…
Sweltering Second Floor Heat
The number one deterrent for double decker homes is Florida‘s hot climate. Temperatures frequently soar into the 90s, sending heat upwards. According to physics, hot air rises naturally thanks to convection currents.
Think playing Mario and steadily trekking to Bowser‘s fiery castle on higher floors.
In real life, this rising heat turns second floors into pressure cookers. Research shows temperatures on two-story top levels can spike over 120°F degrees in Florida‘s summer. Without serious insulation and blast-you-to-Antarctica air conditioning, occupants bake.
So while Florida technically allows two-story houses, convincing builders, buyers, and Mother Nature requires serious persuasion!
Ground Floor Game Benefits
Studying the data for one and two-story houses shows 68% of Florida’s housing inventory are single floor dwellings:
Florida Homes by Story Count
| Home Type | Percentage |
|---|---|
| One-story | 68% |
| Two-story | 32% |
Why are one-story ranches and bungalows so prevalent?
Surviving Sweaty Summers: One floors don‘t heat up as drastically thanks to closer proximity to shaded lawns and cooling breezes. It‘s choosing beach front property to avoid lava dungeons.
Battening Down Hatches: Florida endures hurricanes and tropical storms. Lower situated homes secured tightly to their slab foundations better handle flooding surge tides and barreling winds.
Moisture Resistance: Concrete block first floors repel moisture ingress while elevated platforms invite flooding and leaks. Going two-stories means double the repair headaches after storms!
Other Contributing Factors
Beyond sweating it out upstairs or watching roof tiles whizzing by during the next hurricane, other elements add to the single-story home strategy in Florida:
High water table and aquifers prevent digging satanic pit-style basements.
Stringent building codes prioritize structure resilience over stylish frills.
Cost of land, property taxes, insurance makes affordable two-story options limited.
Retiree and aging population settle well on single floors.
So while South Florida cities like Miami offer luxury high rise waterfront condos and Jacksonville flashes two-story plantation style riverfront mansions, much of Florida cultivates the beloved single floor living!
Let me know in comments if this house hunting intel helps! And if anyone sees any forbidden Florida rituals requiring sacrifice, please notify authorities!
