A semi-detached home (sometimes known as a "semi") is a single-family duplex dwelling house that shares one common wall with the next property. This form of housing differs from detached houses, which have no shared walls, and terraced houses, which have a shared wall on both sides. Semi-detached homes are often found near main roads where they can take advantage of the view but not be affected by road noise. They are particularly common in suburban areas where they allow for more space than a typical terrace or bungalow and are less expensive than a detached house. The word "semi-" means "half" or "shared"; this type of house has walls shared with half of another house. There are two types of semi-detached houses: "open" and "closed." Open semis have living room, dining room, and kitchen on one side and three bedrooms and a bathroom on the other. Closed semis have all four rooms on one floor with no access to an outside area from any other part of the house. This makes them easier to heat in winter and cool down in summer. However, closed semis are also less accessible to children who might want to play outside. Closed semis are becoming increasingly rare because they don't offer much space for expansion. With multiple families moving into these properties, over time, there isn't enough room for a garage, let alone a shed.