Maisonette or bungalow: which suits your plot?
How plot size, budget, family needs and plans to build in phases decide between a maisonette and a bungalow in Kenya.
By Redbay Group ·
Start with the plot
On a small plot, building up is often the only way to get the space you need and still keep a garden and parking. On a larger plot, a bungalow can spread out and keep everything on one level.
County rules on plot coverage limit how much of the plot a building can cover, which can push a design upwards.
How the costs differ
A maisonette needs a suspended floor slab, a staircase and stronger columns and foundations. A bungalow of the same floor area needs a bigger foundation and a bigger roof. Neither is automatically cheaper, so compare itemised quotes for both designs on your plot.
Think about who will live there
Stairs suit some families and not others. If elderly parents will live with you, or you plan to stay in the house as you age, put at least one bedroom and a bathroom on the ground floor.
A maisonette separates living and sleeping areas, which many families like for privacy and security.
Building in phases
If you plan to add a floor later, the foundations, columns and stair position must be designed for it from the start, and an engineer must confirm this in the drawings. Adding a floor to a bungalow that was not designed for it is risky and often not possible.
A quick checklist
- Plot size, slope and county coverage rules
- Family needs now and in 10 to 20 years
- Views and privacy from neighbours
- Whether you will build in phases
- Itemised quotes for both options on your plot