Rambler House: Features, Major Structure Styles, & Crucial Considerations!

From stunning buildings and towering apartments to the most expensive houses, the USA showcases marvelous architectural designs. One of them is a rambler house, known for its relaxed and laid-back style, which serves the needs of many middle-class citizens as well as billionaires alike. 

Individuals who find the open-plan layout most suitable for their residential needs should consider this option. To learn more about this low-maintenance home or whether it will suit you, continue to read this till the end.   

What is a Rambler House and Its Features?

A rambler house is a domestically inclined architecture that is very typical of the USA. Such a construction is also called a ranch-style house. It is a low-profile structure with less steep roofs and wide-open indoor-outdoor living spaces compared to other house plans.  

The main credit for originating such styles of residential floor plans is given to Cliff May. It all started when May built the first of its kind ranch-style home in 1932 in San Diego. Today, his creation is known as the “California Ramblers.”  

Moreover, consider the standing features below that make a residential property a rambler house. The following table also provides practical effects of such typicalities. 

S. No.	Prominent Attributes	Images	Effects
1.	Less steep gable roofs		Provides an overall down-to-the-ground look that makes the structure a low-profile build.
2.	Overhanging eaves		Extends the spaciousness of the structure on the outside.
3.	One-story		Furthermore, it adds to the ground-level arrangement of the house.
4.	An uninterrupted floor plan		Creates a very airy and spacious indoor space with a unified feel.
5.	An attached garage		Often makes the overall shape of the house look like an L from a distance.
6.	Large windows		Provides for a hassle-free indoor-outdoor living space.
7.	Sliding glass doors		Ensures seamless connectivity with the outdoor living structures.
8.	L or U shape		Creates the typical signature shape of the entire property horizontally.
9.	Horizontal build		Enhances the ground-level appeal of the property.
10.	Post and beam ceiling structure		Renders the interior space rustic and old-school.

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Pros and Cons of a Rambler Home

Rambler homes come with several noticeable positive and negative aspects, as tabulated below. Pros here outweigh cons in numbers as well as in practical benefits. If you are looking for a low-maintenance unified living space for your single use, a ranch-style property might be the right choice.   

Pros	Cons
Down-to-earth, low profile	Large land required
Simple exterior	Small yards
Spacious interior	Compromised privacy
Low maintenance cost
Ease of navigation
High safety

The requirement of a large land for construction and small outdoor living spaces might be acceptable for many buyers in a rambler house, but compromising privacy can come across as a strong con!  

Often, rambler home designs are such that there are large windows and sliding glass doors, as the structure is more oriented towards creating a unified indoor-outdoor space. Additionally, there are no definite internal boundaries between the kitchen, bedrooms, living rooms, etc. All of that can easily interfere with the dwellers’ privacy. It is especially true during nighttime when lights are on, making the interior crystal clear from a distance outside. 

However, a single owner can easily resolve this issue by using curtains or even choosing privacy glasses that obscure visibility completely.

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Rambler Home Types

There is more than one type of rambler-style home design, as listed and briefly described in the table below. Consider the variety you have in this style of residential architecture, and pick the one that suits your needs the best. 

S. No.	Rambler House Plans	Outside Appearances	Details
1.	California Rambler		– Designed by Cliff May in 1930- The first ranch-style home ever made – L or U-shaped structure- Central courtyard – Single-story construction – Attached garage
2.	Split-Level Rambler		– Multiple compartments- One relatively higher section than the other –  Separation of compartments by stairs – More than one story- Smaller version of split-level house
3.	Storybook Rambler		– Fairy-tale-like curb appeal – Inclined towards aesthetics – Lavish construction as opposed to minimalism – Non-L or U-shape build, as opposed to traditional rambler house design – Often complemented by lush greenery and natural elements
4.	Raised Ranch		– A taller structure – Split-entry – Garages and storage spaces underneath the kitchen, living room, or other internal spaces – Two-story appearance
5.	Suburban Ranch		– Simple design – Low-cost construction – Indoor-outdoor spaciousness- Small in size- highly manageable

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Is a Rambler Style Home Right for You?

If you are not sure whether rambler style house plans are perfect for you, consider the following aspects first before buying or building a project. It will help you analyze the subjective worth of this special residence in a deep and meaningful way. 

1. Accessibility 

For joint families with kids and senior citizens, such ranch-style houses offer a high level of accessibility inside the property. There are no floors to climb to, enabling everyone, even people with restricted mobility, to get to all corners of the interior with ease. 

2. Energy Consumption 

Due to a highly spacious and unified indoor-outdoor arrangement, there is more than enough sunlight available, reducing the need for electricity-powered light during the day and thus saving electricity. 

Additionally, there is no compartmentalization of the internal space—only one connected space. It further reduces electricity consumption, as there is no need to condition the air of more than one room, as is the case with many modern residences with multiple floors and numerous rooms. 

3. Maintenance 

Rambler houses are easier to maintain due to simple and integrated interiors. There are no separate rooms, internal walls, or stairs to add to the upkeep burden. The overall structure isn’t that high as well. Most ranch-designed properties are low in profile and down to the ground, making the structure perfect for self-maintenance efforts. 

4. Flexibility 

If you have a family with small kids, your accommodation needs will definitely differ over time. You might need to reconceptualize your space, such as adding more bedroom areas for growing kids, creating two different work spaces, etc. With a rambler house, there comes a high level of flexibility in this regard. You can reimagine the open floor plan anytime to best suit your current needs, thanks to no load-bearing internal walls involved. 

5. Spaciousness 

The main feature of a ranch-style house is the open plan—just a wide and unified floor design with no dividing walls inside. It creates a sense of huge spaciousness, allowing an airy and comfortable atmosphere. This feel is only typical with this structure because the average square footage of a house is generally smaller than a ranch.  

6. Profile 

These houses showcase small to medium heights with less steep gable roofs and overhanging eaves, rendering the overall structure closer to the ground. This creates a low profile and minimalistic look from a distance. 

People who find these aspects beneficial can comfortably choose to live in rambler houses. That will enrich their lives and make a positive difference. 

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Key Considerations Before Building a Rambler House

Whether rambler home plans or any other type of residential construction, building a house must be accompanied by careful consideration. Pay attention to the following points and never forget to ensure all the essentials before the construction begins. 

• Adequate Land: Whether the storybook or Cliff May’s California creation, a rambler home typically requires a large piece of land, often with rectangular dimensions. 

• Suitable Foundation: Unlike multi-story builds, a ranch dwelling needs a large and broad foundation, often because there is a horizontally long unified structure that needs to accommodate all the available internal space. 

• Quality Roofing: Ranches require gable roofs with extended eaves, which must be handled meticulously with functional water drainage planning and long-lasting weatherproofing so that they can withstand the wrath of the elements easily. Hence, make sure you choose the top-notch materials here.

• Competent Contractor: Always look for a well-qualified, experienced builder if you want to ensure quality construction. Many people don’t know about a contractor and their roles and responsibilities. It hinders them from getting the right person to handle their dream projects, leading to inefficiencies. 

• Obtaining Permits: Never forget to fulfill all the permit-related requirements according to the applicability of the local laws before starting the build. Safety and legal compliance must always be well taken care of. 

• Risk Analysis: Some areas are more prone to natural disasters or emergencies than others. Factor in all such risks before deciding on any rambler style home plans so that you can build a safe residence. 

If you also need to furnish the internal space once the construction is complete, it will be added to the overall cost of the project. Factor in all such demands in advance before creating a budget so that unexpected expenses can be handled better. 

Also Read: What is a Submittal in Construction? Learn How Submittals Work and Why You Need to Focus on Them 

Conclusion 

Rambler houses are minimalistic domestic structures that allow people to live in a spacious atmosphere. Such a design is great for locations with a hot and humid climate. If you have land and are planning to start such a project on it, don’t forget to conduct thorough research first on the best construction companies in the USA. An expert will enable you to build a ranch-style home with precision. 

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