Construction of duplexes on a turnkey basis. What is duplex Duplex pros and cons

A duplex is a separate country house, divided by a common wall into two halves under a common roof, designed to accommodate two families.

In recent years, words such as “duplexes” and “townhouses” are increasingly appearing in advertisements for the sale of residential real estate and on developer websites. In this article we will find out what these newfangled names mean and how such residential buildings differ from each other.

If you are not yet familiar with the concept of a “townhouse,” we suggest that you familiarize yourself with it in our recent publication “What is a townhouse and its features.”

Let's figure out the name

The word “duplex” itself translated from English means “double”, “two-sided”. We can say that a duplex house is two cottages united by one roof and a common side wall.

Each independent part of a duplex is considered an individual residential building. Each half has all the necessary communications, a separate entrance and a small (up to 8 acres) garden area. Overall, this is a budget option for cozy country housing.

Based on the price category, duplexes are divided into 2 categories: economy class and luxury.

Types of duplex houses

Applications and properties of HDF

HDF is mainly used in the same places as MDF. Because of its high density and strength, HDF is used as floor panels, and subfloors are made from it. Due to the fact that these boards withstand mechanical stress well, they are suitable for a base under laminate or natural veneer. High-density boards are widely used in the furniture industry. Due to its low cost, HDF is often used to make parts and parts of structures that are hidden behind the facade of the housing. For example, this could be the back wall of furniture, the doors of wardrobes, the base of drawers, and so on.

Minimal deviations in thickness make HDF an ideal material for. In non-residential premises, suspended ceilings are made from HDF, which make it possible to hide communications, ventilation and everything that needs to be hidden from view, for a more aesthetic appearance of the room. In the carriage and automotive industries, HDF is used as a material for the interior decoration of carriages, buses, trams, etc. d. In industrial production, packaging or reusable containers for non-food products are made from these wood boards. HDF is widely used in various fields due to its beneficial properties:

• Environmentally friendly material. No chemical additives are used in the production of boards. Bonding of raw materials provides a natural component that is contained in the wood itself. It is called lignin, under the influence of high temperatures, it turns into an organic glue that reliably holds everything together into a single system;
• The decoding of the name HDF indicates that this material has high density and hardness, which distinguishes it from other fiberboards;
• Uniformity of the structure, which is achieved by production technology, since the raw materials are crushed into a single mass without voids and defects characteristic of natural wood;
• High dimensional stability and good horizontality. This distinguishes HDF from ordinary plywood, which can have different thicknesses;
• Good tolerance to mechanical processing. HDF can be sawed, drilled, perforated, and bent modules can be created, all of which significantly expands the range of applications of high-density fiberboard;

• Sanded boards are produced by sanding the surface of finished boards; they are not coated with anything and serve as a good base for paints and varnishes;
• Decorated slabs can come in a variety of colors and textures. They are coated with dispersion colored varnishes in several layers, using different rollers, you can create the texture of different types of wood. The final clear varnish protects against scratches, weather conditions and chemicals.

The first duplexes in history

The history of duplexes dates back to the 19th century in England - these were houses with extensions that allowed grown-up children and their families to live in close proximity to their parents. Moreover, each housewife had a separate kitchen, and everyday issues did not overlap. The idea of ​​semi-detached family houses was also popular in Europe - middle-income families appreciated the possibility of building a family home on a budget, and the sections of the house were not identical in structure and layout. Over time, the mirror layout took root, that is, duplexes began to be designed with sections symmetrical to each other, with separate entrances.

In Russia, duplexes appeared in residential areas of large cities as luxury housing, despite the small building area, prices for fashionable houses were prohibitive. Currently, duplexes are affordable real estate for the middle class - buying a house in a duplex is cheaper than purchasing an entire cottage, and living conditions are almost identical.

A Russian feature of duplexes is the acquisition of them by different families, which explains the desire to fence off their part of the local area with a fence. The original position of such housing as family housing is being eradicated in our country.

Duplex - what it looks like, features

The term "duplex" in real estate refers to the construction of a house that is designed separately for two homeowners. One homeowner lives on the left side, and another on the right. In this case, it is possible to design both a single entrance and a separate entrance for each family. The plot of land, as well as the courtyard area, are common, but divided into component parts. A duplex house is no taller than three stories, but in most cases it is a two-story structure.

The history of this type of property begins more than 150 years ago in the UK. Then an additional part of the house was specially built for second-generation families. Duplex came to Russia after townhouses in the nineties.

The main advantage of duplex compared to houses with many apartments is that they do not have uniform specific requirements for construction. The owners themselves choose the desired layout, communications, location of rooms and all other characteristics. Such facilities are built either outside the city limits or in so-called residential areas. In the latter case, it will be a class of luxury housing, since land within the city for construction is much more expensive.

The difference between domestic duplexes and foreign ones is that relatives usually live in such houses abroad, but in Russia a duplex is most often occupied by families that are unfamiliar to each other, which can create problems in living.

Architectural features

A duplex is designed according to the same principles as a regular cottage. Considering the growing popularity of this type of housing, modern architects are creating a variety of projects for economy class duplexes for 2 families, including individual architectural designs.

The main factors that you should rely on when choosing a duplex project:

• layout;
• number of floors;
• common and living area;
• wall material;
• type of roof.

The design solution for a duplex house must satisfy both families who plan to live under one roof. The layout, the area, the size of the local area, and the exterior decoration should be satisfactory. From the outside, the house should have a single harmonious design and give the impression of a solid architectural structure. In recent years, owners of duplexes, by mutual agreement, are decorating their houses in European, high-tech or modern style.

We suggest choosing an elite duplex together

If you decide to become the owner of a duplex (apartment or house), come for advice from the specialists of the Sochi-Elite portal. The choice of such objects in the southern capital is so diverse that making such a profitable purchase will not be difficult. The duplexes being built in Sochi meet a variety of taste requirements. In our catalogs you will find houses and apartments created according to the “duplex” type, of small and impressive footage, with an interesting layout, and most importantly - at an affordable price. The price of such real estate varies significantly depending on the area of ​​the city, the number of square meters of total and living space, and the quality of the repair work carried out.

You have the opportunity to buy a ready-made object or begin to realize your cherished dream, starting with getting acquainted with its project. Many clients of the Sochi-Elite portal opt for the second option of cooperation, which provides additional opportunities for the implementation of individual architectural solutions and bold design ideas. In this case, you can provide personal control over the construction work, which, if necessary, will allow you to make the necessary adjustments to them.

Duplexes are a truly practical solution to the housing problem. But you can be sure of this only when you become the owner of such real estate.

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Layout and location of rooms

The layouts of duplexes and townhouses are similar: most often there are two floors, “mirror” sections, and a similar layout of rooms. On the ground floor of such houses there are common rooms - a kitchen, living room, bathroom, utility rooms, on the second - bedrooms of family members, an additional bathroom, possibly a dressing room and a balcony.

An interesting fact: in the United States, duplexes with an additional third section, common for two families, have recently begun to be built. It may contain a children's playground, a gym with exercise equipment, billiards, a laundry room, a cinema, or a common spacious living room for receiving guests, etc.

Nuances when planning duplex houses

The internal layout of such real estate may differ in different parts, despite the unity of the external facade. The layout of a classic duplex includes:

• a dining room, a kitchen, as well as a living room and utility room located on the lower floors;
• bedrooms are located on the floors above;
• mirror construction of parts and their layout on both sides of the duplex.

Modern elite versions of duplexes are increasingly equipped with common areas: gyms, billiard rooms, laundries, cinemas. These additional territories are used by both owners.

Duplex: pros and cons

The reasons for the popularity of the new type of housing lie in its obvious advantages:

1) Affordable price.

For owning a home on land, the cost of a duplex is very reasonable, and the buyer receives not only a country house, but also an adjacent plot of land with a parking space and a personal garage. Saving on building materials and general utilities allows the developer to get by with a minimal budget.

2) Convenient location.

Duplexes in Russia are built on lands intended for dacha buildings. But the construction of townhouses and cottages on agricultural lands is prohibited. The infrastructure of a dacha area is most often formed, the optimal distance from the city with which transport links are established.

3) Energy intensity.

Duplexes are energy efficient and innovative homes. Designers take into account the location of the building relative to the cardinal directions - the facade of the house is often made of glass and faces the south. This allows you to reduce the cost of heating rooms by using natural sources of heat and light.

4) Relationships with neighbors.

In a house with two owners, neighbors are on only one side, it is easier to agree and resolve common issues. Duplexes, which are close to luxury housing, are purchased by mostly wealthy people, so the risk of scandals and domestic “squabbles” is minimized.

As for the disadvantages, one of the negative aspects of living in a duplex can be noise from the neighboring section. But this issue can be resolved at the design stage or during finishing by using a special building material with air layers, which significantly increases sound insulation performance. An additional obstacle to the spread of sounds will be storage rooms and utility rooms located along the adjacent wall.

Rarely, but possible problems associated with the use of a common yard. If neighbors cannot agree on how to use a common area, you can install a fence and separate your yard. The more disagreements between neighbors, the higher the fence! Although in practice, most often, a children's or sports ground, a recreation area, a swimming pool, a gazebo with benches are installed on a common territory, a garden is planted - by agreement between the residents, and families living under the same roof become friends and help each other in every possible way.

Fourplex and mobile home

Let's also look at less popular houses that have just begun to appear in Russia, because few people know about them.

1. A foreplex is a building in which there are four separate apartments, which are equivalent parts of this house. Here are its features:

• The land near the house belongs to all residents;
• This type of housing belongs to the economical class of housing, since the apartments in the house are small;
• Here one owner will have three more neighbors, who may not even know each other.

It is not necessary that the apartment be two-story - it is possible that a family lives on each floor. It is not necessary to have a common corridor. Each family will have its own access to the street. For those who live on the second floor, it is attached in the form of a reliable ladder.

1. A mobile home is practically a trailer, but you can live in it. Of course, there is critically little living space, but depending on the scale of the house there is a bathroom, a sleeping area, a kitchen and a living room. A design that differs from the concept of a house that is familiar to us does not inspire confidence, but the prices for such objects may well cover the costs of an inexpensive house. However, now in Russia trailer houses have not gained such popularity as in other countries.

Townhouse or duplex?

Having appeared in Russia relatively recently, this type of suburban housing, such as townhouses, was able to quickly gain popularity. This is a block house of eight or more sections, united by a common roof and load-bearing wall. Duplex construction is only gaining momentum. Many people think that duplexes are a type of townhouse, but in reality they differ from each other in several ways.

Several families (eight or more) move into a townhouse and are built mainly outside the city, while duplexes are designed to accommodate only two families, and can also be built within the city. These two types of modern houses differ in cost - townhouses are more affordable (saving on building materials and the general communications system), the cost of constructing duplexes is slightly higher.

As for the land plot, the owners of duplexes receive up to 8 acres, while the yard of a townhouse accounts for up to 4 acres of land. Utility bills are generally identical; individual meters are installed in both types of households.

What is a penthouse in real estate

Luxury housing on the top floor, usually on the roof. The first penthouses appeared in the USA about 100 years ago and quickly spread throughout the world. A little later, mansions began to be built on the flat roofs of houses, which were also called penthouses. The penthouse has a separate entrance - usually its own elevator. Almost every penthouse has a small winter garden, often a swimming pool, and an observation deck. Penthouses are expensive, but the demand for them is consistently high.

There are few penthouses being built, but living in them is prestigious.

Comparison of duplex and apartment

A family planning to purchase real estate is faced with a difficult choice - save money and buy a compact apartment on the floor, or invest a large amount for the purchase and buy housing on the ground. The table below shows a comparison of an apartment and a duplex house according to the main parameters.

The advantages of semi-detached houses on land are not limited to this table - a garage, the absence of noisy elevators and dirty entrances, more spacious living space, neighbors with a common social status, the ability to add premises in the yard and much more. Living in the city has such advantages as modern infrastructure, a developed public transport network, and walking distance to important social facilities and recreational facilities.

Architectural nuances of duplex houses

Duplex houses are designed according to the same basic parameters as standard cottages. There are distinctive features of the architecture:

1. Enlarged window openings. Architects most often plan such openings with access to the east in order to heat the living space using the sun and reduce heating costs.
2. Facade in the same style. The interior of a duplex in two sections is often opposite, but the external facade is always made in the same style.
3. Two floors. The most common solution, although there are also three-story houses and one-story structures.
4. Unified system of engineering structures. Heating communications, water pipes, wiring, gas supply - one system for both parts of the house.
5. Lots of free space. The average living area of ​​each department is 150 m2
6. Own part of the land. The duplex is being built on a plot of 15-30 acres of land and each family gets its own half, where they can grow fruits, vegetables or have a rest.
7. Mirror layout. In both sections the layout is either similar or simply the same.

Increasingly, foreign versions use construction with three sections, one of which is a common area for two families. More often, this layout is used when a duplex is purchased by related families or good friends.

Registration of ownership

The house consists of two apartments connected by a roof, located on one plot of land. This is one object, so ownership of a duplex is registered as shared ownership. But each family has its own account, its own meters for electricity, gas, water. Utility bills are sent separately for each section.

IMPORTANT! If one of the owners wants to sell his apartment, he first offers it to his neighbor. . If the other co-owner of the shared property has no desire to buy the second section, he must give written consent to the sale to an outsider

If the other co-owner of the shared property has no desire to buy the second section, he must give written consent to the sale to an outsider.

The land under the building can be registered both for the construction of an individual house and for the construction of an apartment building. The first option is simpler from a legal point of view, and with the second option, each owner of his apartment can dispose of the property at his own discretion; for sale, there is no need to obtain the consent of a neighbor.

Who is a duplex suitable for?

Usually this is a house where close relatives live: parents and children, brother and sister, uncle and nephew. A duplex helps you save money: instead of two separate houses, you build one. This saves money on conducting geotechnical surveys and connecting communications to the house.

Sometimes strangers live in duplexes and put a fence between the sections. In this case, the very meaning of a duplex as a home for loved ones is lost.

Therefore, a duplex is more suitable for relatives. They get the opportunity to live side by side, but conduct their lives separately and as they see fit.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's pay attention to the pros and cons of this structure. So, the positive features include: . Living in nature at the lowest possible price with developed infrastructure nearby and proximity to the city

We can say that this is a fundamental feature and the most important advantage. Payment for housing and communal services. Utility bills on any suburban area are cheaper than in the smallest apartment; in this case, a duplex most likely refers specifically to suburban buildings. People next door. If you perceive a duplex as an apartment, then the number of neighbors will play into your hands, because in an ordinary apartment building we have neighbors in the stairwell, above and below, but in two-story cottage-type apartments there is only one neighbor. Property size. Large area of ​​premises inside and outside the building. For example, in ordinary townhouses the maximum size of a personal plot is 1.5 square meters, while for a two-story dwelling it is twice as much.

• Living in nature at the lowest possible price with developed infrastructure nearby and proximity to the city. We can say that this is a fundamental feature and the most important advantage.
• Payment for housing and communal services. Utility bills on any suburban area are cheaper than in the smallest apartment; in this case, a duplex most likely refers specifically to suburban buildings.
• People next door. If you perceive a duplex as an apartment, then the number of neighbors will play into your hands, because in an ordinary apartment building we have neighbors in the stairwell, above and below, but in two-story cottage-type apartments there is only one neighbor.
• Property size. Large area of ​​premises inside and outside the building. For example, in ordinary townhouses the maximum size of a personal plot is 1.5 square meters, while for a two-story dwelling it is twice as much.

• Security level. This is not a single private house, but a joint construction, so in case of an emergency, be confident and calm - they will help you.
• Developed infrastructure. Typically, the developer company provides everything necessary for life and provides the village or complex with pharmacies, shops, schools, kindergartens and everything that affects the standard of living.
• Possibility of redevelopment. This advantage applies to those types of premises where there is nothing on the ground floor except a bathroom, then the owners can plan the room to their liking.
• Public utilities. As a rule, an autonomous heating and water supply control system is installed in each dwelling of this type. Each family has access to it, and if desired, they can increase and decrease the temperature, turn the water off and on.