Two story Little House?

[Ray N]

If it was possible how much modification would be needed to make a Little House or Builders Cottage into a two story?  Sorry if the sounds like an asthetic crime,  but my property is terraced so I could easily have it one story on one side and two on the back.

I originally was sold on the idea of a full fondation, but was thinking I could use the terracing to my advantage and use a simpler foundation (hmm could I get by with heavy peirs?), thus more wood (my sweat equity) and less cement (contracted out).  I'd use the bottom level for storage, heating and future utilities hookup.

Thanks.

[John Raabe]

For small houses the main drawback to going two stories high is the space needed for the stair. A wrap around code stair takes a space over 8' long by 7' wide out of both floors. This is the entry fee for a two story design and it makes little difference what the total size the of the house is.

In a project like the Little House it is a big percentage of the available space.

[Ray N]

Thanks John,  for the situation I was thinking I wouldn't have interior stairs.  One side you would walk in from ground level or have a few external steps.  The back of the house would be lower and you could walk into the "basement".

I guess my question is besides stairs could I use beefed up peirs and 2x6 construction and make a two story Builders Cottage?

[John Raabe]

Sure, you could stack two floors on top of each other. If you will do a concrete foundation just make it sized for a two story house (8" wall w/ 8x16 Ftg.). If you will do the post and pier foundation you will need to add extra piers to shorten the span of the beams and carry the extra load.