{"id":1355,"date":"2021-07-08T06:28:45","date_gmt":"2021-07-08T11:28:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/twomakeahome.com\/?p=1355"},"modified":"2021-07-08T06:31:13","modified_gmt":"2021-07-08T11:31:13","slug":"what-is-terrace-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/twomakeahome.com\/what-is-terrace-level\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Terrace Level?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Patios, balconies, and terraces\u2026 oh my! Okay, so these interchangeable terms are not necessarily as intimidating as lions, tigers, and bears. However, when searching the housing market, these terms can bring a lot of anxiety.<\/p>\n

Terrace level often is a descriptive term used in housing reviews to mean that it is equal to the ground floor but has an outdoor space raised from the ground level. These are often desirable locations because people enjoy being on the ground floor and having an outdoor oasis that provides extra living space.<\/p>\n

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Still confused? Though it should be easy to comprehend, there are multiple terms that relate to similar descriptions. If you\u2019re trying to distinguish between terraces, patios, porch, decks, and balconies, read on to learn the differences between the five.<\/p>\n

Outdoor Living<\/h2>\n

Outdoor living<\/a> is one of the biggest selling features for real estate. While it is often important in warm climates, many cooler climates that offer outdoor fireplaces and hot tubs are very desirable. Afterall, who doesn\u2019t think of a lovely mountain getaway with a heated pool, sauna, firepit, and hot cocoa? When creating an outdoor living space, people want an oasis in nature. This is especially wanted in urban sprawls, like New York City or Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

What is included in the living space typically relates back to which of the outdoor living spaces you have. A terrace allows the needed room for an outdoor kitchen<\/a>, but a balcony will only spare room for a bistro table and chairs.<\/p>\n

Terraces<\/h3>\n

Since you came here looking for the answer to what a terrace level is, let\u2019s tackle that one first. As mentioned before, a terrace is a term that typically refers to a home or apartment that is on the first floor. In Latin, terra<\/em> is the word for Earth, and terrace is built off of that etymology.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/beautiful-wooden-terrace-garden-furniture-surrounded-1087490177<\/p>\n

While a terrace is often used in place of the other words (ahem, I\u2019m looking at you, patio), they are not exactly the same. First thing to note is that a terrace is not connected to a single room. There are typically several entry points to get onto a terrace. These can be from the garden or several rooms of the home. Typically, a terrace is not enclosed by a railing so that they are accessible. Terraces also typically are built raised from the earth at least one step, if not more. They can be made from a variety of materials, such as wood, stone, brick, cement, composite, or even marble. Terraces can be freestanding structures away from the house or can be connected to the home. They can be covered, but it is not a requirement.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s throw a monkey wrench in there. Terraces can also be on the rooftop of homes and apartment buildings. These are clearly not directly attached to the living areas and can only be accessed through the building or an emergency stairwell. Typically, a rooftop terrace is a communal area in an apartment building, so people will not get to live on these terrace levels.<\/p>\n

Patios<\/h3>\n

Patios and terraces are often interchangeable since they both refer to a living space that has been built separate from the home. These structures are built directly on the ground, however. They are also made of natural paving products, such as asphalt, cement, concrete, and stone pavers. These are quite common in yards, as it is easy to pour concrete and can also be repurposed. For example, many people have concrete patios that were once where a shed stood.<\/p>\n

Balconies<\/h3>\n

Balconies may be the easiest to tell apart from the other outdoor living areas. These are attached to the building and not on the ground floor. Balconies are accessible from only one room, sometimes only through a large window (think Rachel and Monica\u2019s balcony on Friends<\/em>). Balconies tend to be quite small, since they jut out from the building. Most people use these for small seating areas as a place just to get outside for some fresh air. These are the most common outdoor areas for inhabitants of large cities, and many gardening and decorating advancements have allowed renters and homeowners the opportunities to treat this as a much larger space.<\/p>\n

Porches & Decks<\/h3>\n

These two are lumped together because they are quite similar in many aspects. Both typically are made of wood or a wood composite. They are elevated from the ground with a few steps. They also are typically enclosed with a single opening to go into the house and to enter the yard.<\/p>\n

A porch is covered, while a deck is typically not entirely covered. Decks tend to be outdoor living spaces for dining or relaxing, while porches act as a resting spot for those waiting to enter a home. You can see old Southern homes with wrap-around porches, and these act as a place to escape the warm sun near the home.<\/p>\n

Terrace Level<\/h2>\n

Now that we\u2019ve figured out the confusing nature of outdoor living structures, let\u2019s look at the point of this article: what is terrace level? Terrace level is clearly on the same level as the terrace, which would be the ground. In the housing market, this is often the basement, though it should still have windows and an external door to the terrace. In luxury homes and apartments, these are decorated to the nines, and are quite desirable because of the privacy and the outdoor living space. Of course, people would prefer to see \u201cterrace level\u201d written in the description rather than \u201cbasement level,\u201d so it is often all in how things are marketed.<\/p>\n

If you are a homeowner, you may be able to tap into potential living space you hadn\u2019t thought of before. An unfinished basement may be great for storage, but these levels can be turned into rental apartments for income or for guest space.<\/p>\n

Terrace Pros<\/h3>\n