TYPES OF HOUSING

There are many types of housing in Canada. Housing types are similar across the country. Each level of a house of building is a storey. A storey is one level. The ground level or ground floor is the first storey, the second floor is the second storey. The basement is not a story.

Canadian homes almost always have a finished or unfinished basements. A basement is not the same as a cold cellar. To Canadians, a cellar is an unheated storage space below ground. Basements are heated and ususally only partly below ground level. In the part above ground level are small windows.

Basements usually have a utility or laundry space or a room used for a clothes washer and dryer. The furnace is usally in another part of the basement.

A finished basement is insulated and finished, usually to the same level as the rest of the house. Homeowners used finished basements as family rooms, TV rooms or additional basement.

BASEMENT APARTMENT:

A basement apartment is a basement converted to an apartment. It may have a separate entrance. The apartment may have its own bathroom, kitchen, laundry room and heating system, or share with the rest of the house.

DETACHED:

A detached house is not attached to any other house and is usually one of two storeys high. A detached house is also called a single-detached or single family dwelling. A one-storey is called a bungalow. There are many styles of bungalows. A ranch style bungalow is a large, spread out bungalow.

HIGHRISE APARTMENT:

A highrise apartment is an apartment in a building that can be from six to 30 or more storeys high. Highrise apartment towers have elevators and security systems to monitor entry and exit. Because they are newer buildings they often have laundry facilities, sports and recreation facilities, and so on. Highrise buildings are well built and have efficient electrical, heating, sewage and plumbing systems.

ROOMING HOUSE:

A rooming house rents rooms by the week or month. Often there is a fridge and roomers share the kitchen and bathroom. A single person is more likely to use a rooming house.

SEMI-DETACHED OR DUPLEX:

A semi-detached house is attached to another similar house. The common wall is thick enough to prevent sound passing between the units. Semis can either be one or two storeys and ususally have yards in the back. In some cities such as Montreal, semis are called duplexes. In other parts of Canada, a duplex is a two storey house with separate dwelling units on each storey. If there is a yard, it is usually for the first floor residents only.

TOWNHOUSE OR ROW HOUSE:

Townhouses (sometimes called row houses) are several houses with a common wall between each house. They are usually two storeys. A stacked townhouse is one townhouse sitting on top of each other.

WALK UP OR LOWRISE APARTMENT:

A walk-up or lowrise is an apartment that does not have an elevator. Generally monthly rent for a walk-up is less than montly rent for a highrise apartment. Walk-ups are usually older buildings with less than 5 storeys.