duplex homes double the pleasure

from Edmonton New Home + Condo Guide - May 27, 2022

Creating connections to the community

Excel Homes

Duplex homes

double the pleasure

The duplex home used to be looked down upon as the poor cousin of the single-family home set. But through years of design innovation, soundattenuation improvements, and evolving exterior looks, this twin-home design has become a favourite – and not just with first-time homebuyers.

Homebuilders have different names for the duplex. Some call it a side-by-side home, or a semidetached home, or even a paired home. No matter what it is called, its flexibility, functionality, and perhaps most importantly, its affordability has made it a perennial best-seller for homebuilders.

A duplex is a single structure featuring two residences, each with its own private entrance and one shared wall (there is usually a gap between the walls of the two homes to lessen sound transfer). Each home is individually owned, and unlike townhomes, have no condo fees. It’s twice the nice at half the price.

Sound transfer used to be the biggest knock against duplexes, but that is largely a problem in the past as the advances in sound attenuation technology and floorplan designs work to limit the creaks and cracks.

Besides its inherent affordability, the flexibility duplex homes offer homebuyers is just as integral to its appeal. There have been instances where families buy both units so the parents can live in one household and the kids in the next.

Duplexes continue to be a bestseller for homebuilders as they are seen as an attractive alternative to condos or townhomes, and many are readily available in Edmonton’s best communities. We spoke with a couple of homebuilders to find out just exactly what the attraction is to this home.

Coventry Homes

Coventry Homes Coventry Homes

CovenTry homes

Duplexes have been a consistent best-seller for Coventry Homes. All their duplexes also come with attached garages that provide homeowners that much more convenience.

“You don’t have condo fees, and you only have to share a wall with one neighbour, it’s an ideal home for first-time homebuyers, young families, and downsizers and everyone in between,” syas Tara Van Horn, Director, Marketing & Design at Coventry Homes.

She believes duplexes are the perfect bookend to the homeowning cycle. “It’s the perfect first home for buyers who have grown out of their apartments, and also for those looking to scale down their living space but not their lifestyle,” Van Horn tells Edmonton New Home + Condo Guide.

Duplexes give homeowners the benefit of a larger square footage, a wider home and more land than a towhome, and definietely more affordable than a laned home. Thw award-winning builder, who took home Buillder of the Year (Large Volume) honours again at the last CHBA-Edmonton Region Excellence in Housing Awards, also puts extra emphasis on sound attenuation design for all its multi-family developments.

“At Coventry Homes we have researched various wall systems to develop technology that lessens the noise transfer between multifamily units. Our system is called The Silent Neighbor® and is registered exclusively for Coventry Homes,” Van Horn says.

Starting from the low $400,000s, Coventry Homes’ duplexes offer everything a single-family home could. There are four-bedroom options, corner kitchens with walk-in pantries and developable basements for optimum living space.

The 1,624-square-foot Castillo duplex showcases an open concept main Its L-shaped kitchen features a flush eating bar at the island and pantry cabinets beside the fridge. Off the kitchen is the dining area and living room. Upstairs is three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, laundry closet, and a nook for reading or studying.

The Izar, one of their most popular duplex models, is also the biggest at 1,747 square-feet. It has opento-below options that add to its character and can have up to four bedrooms and three full baths.

Coventry Homes also promises the highest standard specs in the industry, and luxury vinyl plank flooring, and quartz countertops are the norm in most communities. It’s really singlefamily living at a much affordable price.

“All our home designs are driven by customer feedback, the floorplans we offer are a direct result of what our customers tell us they want in their homes.” Nasserdeen says. “We also have the capability to cater to all our customers’ needs and can personalize the home design to suit their particular lifestyle – even with duplexes.”

Coventry Homes Coventry Homes

exCel homes

At Excel Homes, their line of duplex homes aligns with their mission to simplify the buyers’ journey in finding their dream home. Designer-curated interior selections, energy-efficient features, free legal fees, online home personalization, and a move-in concierge service are all included in the full package they provide to all their homebuyers.

Kristina Plank, Marketing Manager at Excel, says their duplexes have the cost advantage of coming with an attached garage, whereas “when you buy a laned home, you have to pay extra for the garage.”

Their two new show homes in the northwest community of Citadel, the Bentley and Emerson, located at 2506 -151A Avenue NW, bring the full potential of these stylishly affordable paired homes to the fore. Plank says both have been very well received since they opened in the fall last year, and their spacious, open-concept design has been one of the highlights.

“Most people think that a duplex is small or limited; however, when you walk into either of these models, the feeling is the exact opposite! They are extremely spacious, modern, light, and open. They have plenty of storage and space for bringing families and friends together,” she says.

The attractive price point, the versatility in design, and the flexible amount of storage space have been why duplexes remain a favourite among homebuyers. They comprise a vital part of Excel Homes’ repertoire in Edmonton, focusing much of their design innovations within these models.

The Bentley, at 1,675 square-feet, is quite large for a duplex and has three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. The Emerson, meanwhile, is a functional and fashionable model with 1,462 square-feet and the same number of bedrooms and baths. The adroit use of space makes both feel spacious, modern and ideal for growing families, Plank says.

The Emerson contains tons of creativity in its use of space. The kitchen is the heart of the home with a spacious pantry and plenty of storage. It is a great space to bring family and friends together and make new memories, Plank says. The second floor features a cozy master suite with a walk-in closet, two additional bedrooms, as well as a laundry room and two linen closets. Outside there is a rear deck for summer entertaining or the perfect place for your morning coffee.