First floor
Many people have a dislike for the first floors that comes from childhood. Remember the dampness and basement smell when entering the entrances of old Khrushchev-era apartment buildings?
Yes, there are quite a few disadvantages to living close to the land:
- Noise from transport, crowded streets or nearby shops and cafes
- No balcony
- Debris under the windows and dirt on the staircase
- Unpleasant smell from garbage disposal
- High risk of burglary compared to other floors
- Paying for a lift you don't need
- Curious passers-by looking in the windows
- Allergies or colds, if you are susceptible to them
But apartments on the ground floor also have undeniable advantages:
First, safety. In the event of a fire or other emergency, residents will be able to evacuate the building more easily and quickly.
Secondly, savings. The cost of an apartment on the ground floor can be reduced by up to 20% compared to higher floors.
Thirdly, you will have access to redevelopments that are not allowed in apartments located above. For example, increasing the kitchen area due to adjacent rooms.
According to clause 24 of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of January 28, 2006 No. 47 , it is prohibited to locate the kitchen above the living rooms of the neighbors below.
On the ground floor such redevelopment is possible because there are no living spaces below. But do not forget that in order for such changes to be approved, a number of conditions must be met.
Among the additional advantages of the first floor, we note the possibility of transferring the apartment to non-residential premises and the almost complete absence of problems with water pressure.
You will not suffer from a breakdown of the elevator, you will not be able to flood your neighbors below, and you will save a lot on the services of loaders when moving and repairing.
What to look for when choosing a layout
Second floor
Not the first, but... Apartments on the second floor have almost the same advantages as the housing of the neighbors below, except for the possibility of redevelopment and transfer to non-residential stock. And this is precisely the main drawback.
It may be an unpleasant surprise for you when a store, office or beauty salon opens near you. Such a neighborhood can bring additional noise, odors and uninvited residents in the form of insects.
Since the main noise will be during the day and evening, families with small children and elderly people should not choose housing on the second floor.
For other buyers, this may be an interesting option, provided the floors and windows are well soundproofed. After all, the price of such apartments is usually also lower.
Pros and cons of apartments on the lower floors
In many new buildings, the first floor, as such, is reserved for shops, beauty salons and other businesses. Apartments located above them may suffer from cockroach infestations, food odors coming through the ventilation, and noise during business hours. However, the option with the top floor is often considered by pensioners who need to be able to go outside if the elevator breaks down, and low-income families.
The advantage of apartments on the lower floors is better fire safety: it will be much easier to evacuate the house in case of fire. But the downside is that without additional reinforcement of windows on the first floors, you can become a victim of robbery. And here’s one more thing: don’t forget that the apartments on the lower floors do not have balconies or loggias, which means you don’t even have anywhere to go out to get some fresh air except to the bench at the entrance. Not the most interesting prospect.
Let's try to figure out why apartments on the 1st floor are bad, how the disadvantages can be corrected, and what the advantages of such an arrangement may be.
Disadvantages of an apartment on the ground floor
1. Noise.
The knocking of the entrance door, the ringing of the intercom, cheerful companies, the screams of children, the noise of approaching cars - residents of the first floor hear all these sounds much louder than others. But in new buildings, good double-glazed windows are usually installed, with which nothing will disturb sleep or distract from business. 2. Dust. You need to understand: if the windows face a busy road, there will be dust on the first, second, and even on the third floor at a minimum. If the windows face a green courtyard, there will be no more dust than others.
3. Bad view from the window. A real flaw that nothing can be done about. However, in new buildings they are increasingly trying to plant a flower bed in front of the windows and plant tall trees further away.
4. The need for bars on windows. Despite the fact that the first floors are indeed more attractive to burglars, today it is not at all necessary to install bars. There are impact-resistant and even bulletproof double-glazed windows, and in addition, you can set an alarm.
5. Smell from the basement and dampness. In the old buildings there really was such a problem, but in new buildings, judging by the reviews of those living on the 1st floor, there are practically no difficulties with this. The foundation is made higher, and modern materials effectively isolate basement odors and dampness. Maybe the floor might be a little colder.
From third to seventh
They are considered the most comfortable floors for living. And this is quite understandable.
Residents are no longer disturbed by street noise, a breakdown of the elevator will not seem like a disaster, the windows often offer a pleasant view of the trees, but they do not interfere with access to daylight. And you are still not too high to easily escape the building if a dangerous situation arises.
It seems that everything is perfect... But there are also disadvantages:
- Being in the middle of the house, you can hear neighbors both below and above
- You may not be lucky with the view from the window - instead of beautiful landscapes you will have to look at the neighboring windows
- Delivery of oversized cargo is already more difficult
It is worth considering that the third and higher is already quite dangerous. Starting from the third floor, it is recommended to provide reliable locks for double-glazed windows that are resistant to small children, and protection for pets.
Eighth floor and above
As a rule, fairly wealthy people choose. After all, apartments on the upper floors of new buildings are usually more expensive. The difference in price depends on the class of the object under construction, its number of storeys, layouts and will be individual in each specific case.
On the upper floors there is better insolation of the room - the crowns of trees do not block the access of sunlight.
Here the noise from the roads is less noticeable, there are good views, and there is less exhaust and dust. Exhaust gases begin to dissipate at a height of 15 meters, and dust from the street usually does not rise above 30 meters.
But! You should not choose the upper floors if there are large enterprises nearby. Harmful substances from pipes accumulate at heights from the eighth floor and above.
Another downside:
- You will have to spend money to bring building materials and furniture into the apartment
- There are insects here - mosquitoes feel great at the level of 10-12 floors
- Vibration - the higher the floor, the stronger it is
- Electromagnetic radiation - the reinforced concrete structure does not transmit electric waves, transmitting part of the background to higher floors
- Increased danger in emergency situations
From the obvious:
Avoid buying an apartment on the top floors if you are afraid of heights. Your maximum is the upper level of tree crowns. Higher up you will be uncomfortable.
Which floor is better for health?
In modern cities, cars play a major role in air pollution, producing up to 80% of all pollutants. Among them are benzopyrene, oxides and dioxides of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur. They are all heavier than air, so they settle at the bottom. This means that residents of the lower floors – 1st and 2nd – suffer the most from pollution. In hot weather, due to heating of the asphalt, harmful substances can even reach the middle floors - from the 3rd to the 7th.
Then which floor is better to live on for your health? Above 3, since in this case there will be minimal influence of harmful emissions. They are dangerous for the development of respiratory diseases and allergic reactions. If you still decide to buy an apartment on the 1st or 2nd floor, then ventilate the property in the morning and late in the evening, and not during peak hours. Additionally, you can purchase a special system for cleaning the air in the apartment. The price of such devices is comparable to air conditioners.
At the same time, the higher the floor, the lower the oxygen level. The 12th floor is considered critical in this matter. Anything higher means a reduced amount of oxygen and low humidity. At a level above the 20th floor, the air is already slightly thinner due to lower atmospheric pressure. Because of this, the local immunity of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat is reduced, which leads to respiratory diseases. Lack of oxygen adversely affects the condition of the cardiovascular system.
In terms of noise
Cars are a source of not only emissions, but also noise. This should also include shops on the ground floors and their outlet air conditioning units used for cooling. The higher the floor, the less noise reaches the apartment. To reduce the noise level, you can install good double-glazed windows.
Therefore, in order to understand which floor is better to buy an apartment on, it is necessary to evaluate the infrastructure of the microdistrict where the apartment building is located. If there are retail outlets on the ground floor and a busy highway nearby, it will be more comfortable on the upper floors.
Top floor
It attracts or frightens, but it definitely does not leave you indifferent.
Along with the first floor, people have become accustomed to disliking the last floor since the times of Khrushchev or Brezhnev buildings. The reason for this was problems with a leaking roof, its overheating in the summer and often poor water pressure.
However, apartments on the top floors of new buildings do not have most of the disadvantages of their predecessors and have a number of advantages.
In new houses, there is a technical room under the roof, which eliminates problems with pressure and overheated roofing. But keep in mind that elevator motors or water supply pumps are noticeably noisy. Before purchasing, check the technical floor plan and choose an apartment further away from communications centers.
By the way, on the website domoy.ru you can set up a filter in such a way that you can see offers from developers only on the top floor.
Often, developers provide panoramic windows on the top floor. If the house is located well, the view from them will be truly impressive. It is not without reason that the top floors of luxury properties are occupied by penthouses.
On the top floor it is also possible to make redevelopments that are not available to residents of the apartments below. For example, it is legal to increase the kitchen area at the expense of the bathroom, because you will not have upstairs neighbors.
Now about the disadvantages:
- High danger in case of emergency, however, residents of the top floor can receive assistance from the roof
- Elevator wait times are longer than you might think
- Vibration and electromagnetic radiation
- Height is a problem and a source of stress for many people.
Instead of conclusions
Which floor to choose when buying an apartment in a new building? As you can see, there is no clear answer. All options have their pros and cons, which may be critical for some buyers and not at all important for others.
Modern houses tend to meet the requirements of comfort and safety and offer a wide range of options. But there are important points that are worth paying attention to.
Ecology
Harmful emissions from enterprises accumulate at heights from the eighth floor and above. And exhaust fumes and dust annoy residents of the lower floors. The better the environmental situation in the area, the wider your choice of floor in terms of air purity.
Neighboring objects
Pay attention to the number of storeys of neighboring houses. If you want a beautiful view, you don’t have to live on the top floor, you just need to be higher than your neighbors.
Elevators
If there are at least two of them in the house (one of which is a cargo one), you can not be afraid of breakdowns and live as high as you want.
Evacuation scheme
In high-rise new buildings, back stairs must be designed. A well-thought-out evacuation scheme will allow you to navigate when choosing a floor only to your taste and not worry about safety.
8 897
General Tips
- You should be careful when purchasing an apartment on the ground floor. If there is a comfortable, fenced, equipped playground, this option is more suitable for families. Since, you can safely let your children play on the playground on their own, without fear that the children will run out of it (if there are no parking spaces nearby for residents’ cars).
- The myth that living on the upper floors is difficult and inconvenient is outdated. In the new buildings, everything is thought out so carefully that the “upper” residents are not only provided with an elevator for comfortable living, but also have a beautiful view from the window. The owners of such apartments will enjoy a panoramic view of the city at night in all its colors.
- Try to correlate as much as possible all the pros and cons specifically for you when choosing a floor. Find out in advance how communications will be carried out.
- Usually there are no balconies on the first floors, so if you fundamentally need access to open space, you should take care to purchase an apartment on the floor above the first.
- Make sure that the windows of the apartment face different sides of the house; this may be impossible on some floors due to the fact that the layout of the apartment is different.
- Apartments located above the third and fourth floors are definitely not suitable for people of retirement age, since the elevator mechanisms often malfunction, and it is difficult to climb to the floor above the fourth with bags of groceries on your own.
