For many people, paired homes strike a balance.

They blend the functionality and lifestyle of a single-family home with the increased affordability that comes with a shared wall.

These homes, also referred to as semi-detached, are offered through Shane Homes in the northeast Calgary community of Cornerstone, and Pine Creek, Legacy, and Wolf Willow, on the city’s south end.

The builder also has paired homes in the Airdrie community of Midtown.

Here are some reasons people should consider buying a paired home built by Shane Homes.

Custom changes

Do you love the floor plan but wish a few things were different? Shane can modify it.

While the ability to make revisions to a floor plan is more typically available with higher priced homes, Shane offers this flexibility for each of its home styles.

Want to move the kitchen from the rear to the middle of the main floor? Wish that three-bedroom paired home had dual master bedrooms instead?

Shane’s area manager in the community in which you’re looking to move can share more about how accommodating these paired homes can be.

Your own yard

While downsizers will seek an easier to maintain square footage, many will also want some outdoor space to call their own.

Whether it’s to grow your own flower or vegetable garden, or watch your grandchildren jump through the sprinkler on a hot summer day, personal green space is often a must.

Paired homes offer a front and rear yard that is smaller and more manageable than most single-family homes.

Peace and quiet

While paired homes have a shared wall, with those built through Shane, you’ll barely notice it.

The two sides only attach at the roof trusses and the foundation.

Rather than two-inch by four-inch construction, the paired wall is constructed with two-inch by six-inch staggered studs.

There’s also a one-inch air gap between the walls that extends through the stairs. This cuts down on sound transfer and vibration between the two homes.

Many builders use a shared wall system that does not extend the one-inch air gap between the joists.  

Shane Homes encourages people to try the “yell test,” where one person stands in each of the two paired show homes to see if they can hear the other.

It doesn’t happen.

Smarter

Through Shane, paired homes come with more conveniences, including those that support its security and energy-efficiency.

They all include a smart home package, featuring a smart speaker, Wi-Fi smart lock, video doorbell with camera, smart light kit, smart Wi-Fi plugs, and a smart home learning thermostat.

The owner can control these features through an app on their phone.