Townhouse v detached
 

I notice that town houses in our chosen area of Port Moody seem to be much, much bigger than detached houses of similar value. I have no experience of 'joined-on' living and just wondered if anyone has any views as to pros and cons.

I know that builds vary, but my main concern is the possibility of noise through the walls, is this a legitimate concern? Also, gardens seem to be smaller and service charges are quite high. Any views would be appreciated.

Re: Townhouse v detached
 

I would always choose detached mainly due to noise concerns - think base sounds of a music system, fueding families or crying baby sounds travelling up your walls ;)

PS had all of those plus mummy and daddy's banging headboard (complete with all associated noises) all from a new house build back in the UK. Have had 2 detached homes since then ;)

Re: Townhouse v detached
 

^^^ What she said. I have no idea if joined is the same over here, but as they make the houses out of cardboard anyway, best to go detached if that is important to you I would think.

Re: Townhouse v detached
 

If funds are available I'd opt for detached EVERY time. We sold our detached home and have moved into a rented town house in readiness for our move to Canada....brick built so you'd think noise wouldn't carry as much.....our lovely neighbours seem to come alive at 11pm, just when we're ready for sleeping. They do their housework, empty dishwasher which sounds like they're throwing dishes across the kitchen and even DIY last week (noisy drilling until 10pm). Plus she's some sort of singer and does her scales at some godforsaken hour. They're fine during the day though :blink:

Re: Townhouse v detached
 

The major problem I found was vibration from the washing machine in next door's upstairs laundry room. Especially when they decided to wash after midnight. Although it had a masonry dividing wall, the vibration carried straight through.

Re: Townhouse v detached
 

Most new townhouses and semi-detached houses in Canada have a cinderblock wall or a concrete wall separating them so noise won't carry through the wall.

When looking at these houses check with the realtor to see what kind of noise prevention is in place in the house.

I lived in a semi-detached home with my parents when I was a teenager and the only time we heard our neighbours was in the summer if both of our windows were open. In such close setting you could hear non-attached neighbours through there windows as well so there is very little difference.

In the UK the building standards might be different, and I would be sceptical of any semi or town house in Canada that is over 20 years old without proof of sound proofing (cinder blocks or concrete) between units. Actually, this is also likely a requirement for fire safety reasons.

Re: Townhouse v detached
 

I know there is an issue with semis in the UK, but I was led to believe that Canadian attached houses have thicker walls, as alexisatk said. Is that generally the case?

Re: Townhouse v detached
 

There is also a lifestyle issue to consider. With a detached home you have to look after the yard/garden and take the time, and the money, for maintenance.

Town homes typically have very small individual yards (if any). The monthly fee takes care of all the other landscaping and gardening and all the exterior maintenance of the building. You just look the front door and go whenever you want to.

For people with a busy career and social life, or who travel a lot a town home can be ideal. For people who enjoy their garden and their personal space, not so much.

Re: Townhouse v detached
 

Oddly enough, the house I lived in in London, was a Canadian built townhouse, with a solid concrete dividing wall - it was part of some innovative building project, that eventually proved too expensive. The houses all arrived on a lorry and were bolted together. I loved it. It was very well built and amazingly quiet, well insulated and easy to maintain and keep warm. I had a family of seven to the left and never heard a peep. All was well until the couple to the right ended their relationship and she comforted herself with the bottle and loud country music - the sound of her misery carried remarkably well. I am in the process of selling the house now, in preparation for going to Canada and am very sad to bid goodbye to my home. I want to move to a detached house, mainly because I can't stand people so close to me in the garden. Any house can be rendered unlivable with ghastly neighbours.

Re: Townhouse v detached
 

re: townhouses - don't buy one with people above you.

The side by side kind are fine. We lived in a middle unit (neighbours both sides) and rarely heard anything. We have lived in townhomes with people above us and have friends that have and it seems much harder to keep the noise down, esp. if the people above you have hardwood on their floors. However, don't take my word for it because it really depends on the building. If it's concrete-built, like others said, you won't hear much. Wood frame are noisier.

On the other hand, being in a strata makes it more likely noise issues will be taken care of.

We chose to move out of a townhouse complex in the end and buy detached, mainly because we wanted the freedom of being able to paint our house whatever colour we wanted, etc. etc. But I would live in a townhouse again. Like Jonboy said there are lifestyle advantages to being in a strata - you don't have to do any outside maintenance, all of that is taken care of. We spend a lot of spare time working on the house/yard. Yes, you pay strata fees which can seem high, but on the flipside you should really be keeping a certain amount of money aside for maintenance if you live in a detached home too.

There are some really nice complexes around. Have you checked out Klahanie? We had friends who lived there, seemed lovely, close to WCE, lots of young families.

Re: Townhouse v detached
 

I would go detached, even if it meant I was slightly out of my chosen area.

Lived in a older semi detached in the UK and it was a nightmare, could hear next doors dog and when they were arguing and making up;)

Also lived in a newer detached here (it was 5 years old) and we could hear next door arguing if they were in certain rooms, because the houses were so close together.

Re: Townhouse v detached
 

yes, buy old detached..more space btwn you and neighbours!

Re: Townhouse v detached
 

I live in an old - built c 1889 middle row house.

We rarely have problems with noise, even though our neighbours on one side play music often, and the neighbours on the other side are increasingly bonkers and argumentative.

Having been upstairs with the window open last night, I can appreciate the difference that the walls make in reducing the volume of their constant arguing in Portugese or possibly Italian.

Therefore, I'd say that having a joined or non-joined home more relates to the build quality and age of the property. I used to live in Oakville and my townhome was connected on one side. Again, I never heard a thing....

If I could afford it, I'd probably buy detached, but even row houses here in downtown Toronto cost mega bucks these days...

HTH

Re: Townhouse v detached
 

I thought the whole point of moving to Canada (apart from a better life/upbringing for the children) was to get the big detached house with loads of land and live the Good Life?

Don't be put off living the semi-rural lifestyle. Having your own well and sewerage system, being "out there" with the deer, bears, raccoons, coyotes etc is way more exciting than sharing it with a bunch of strange people who you'll probably never talk to anyway.

Having a gun and being able to shoot stuff and get away with it might be seen as a positive too, as well as being able to burn things at night and get away with it.

The 'postage stamp' plot and sharing buildings with strangers is something to be left behind in England; come for the new and the adventure not the recreation of what you're already comfortable with.

Re: Townhouse v detached
 

How the other half live! haha The houses may be joined together but generally noise isn't a problem. After all if it was then they wouldn't be as popular, but they are popping up everywhere by the looks of it!

But obvioulsy given the choice I'd go with a detatched house every time. As Greenhill said.. its the Good Life! I'n 23 and have just come over here.. still sorting out my PR stuff and everything.. but I can't wait until I can have a big detatched house that family from England can come over and see and be like whaat!? Why have we been putting up with the lil' terraced thing we live in for so long?

I can dream anyway.. :)