Having a basement also increases the likelihood of a radon issue. And there’s the potential of flooding without a sump pump. Humidity in basements may also cause mold and mildew growth. In some states, it is completely okay to build a house without a basement because it is not as necessary as in other states.
Full Answer
Should I buy a home with or without a basement?
Homebuyers with kids and storage needs might even restrict their searches to just homes with basements. A home without a basement in a neighborhood where a number of homes have them might not sell as quickly. Owners of homes built without basements might consider adding a recreation room or additional closet space to compensate.
Do homes have basements in the US?
Over the decades, the American home has taken on different configurations, including in their foundations. In certain parts of the United States, for example, homes are built on concrete slabs with no basements. In other parts of the country, homes are built with basements, which are popular features that can make homes easier to sell.
Does a house with a basement sell faster?
Selling Points. In regions where homes with basements are common, having a basement can ease a home sale. Homebuyers with kids and storage needs might even restrict their searches to just homes with basements. A home without a basement in a neighborhood where a number of homes have them might not sell as quickly.
Can you sell a house without a basement in Texas?
A home without a basement could be retrofitted with one, but it's a complicated construction task. Most areas in Florida and southern cities like New Orleans feature non-basement homes. Texas is another big state where homes often don't feature basements, meaning homeowners without them shouldn't suffer delays when selling their homes.
What are the cons of not having a basement?
Disadvantages of No Basement One of the most significant disadvantages to not having a basement is when you sell it. Basements tend to be a huge asset when selling your house. If you live in an area where basements are popular among buyers, it may be challenging to sell your home.
What is a house without a basement called?
A slab-on-grade means no basement, no basement walls, just one slab of concrete on which you build your house.
Why would a house be built without a basement?
Basements built in California are often below sea level, so extra measures must be taken to prevent flooding and other water-related issues. Most contractors working in California try to reduce expenses wherever possible, and excluding basements from homes fulfills this goal.
Is it better to have a house with a basement?
Advantages of Building Down: Adding a basement or finishing one is great for a low-cost, extra bedroom, family room, or workout room. Adding a basement also creates peace of mind for homeowners as it adds a safe space for you and your family in the event of inclement weather.
Is it OK to buy a house on a slab?
There are good reasons for building or buying a house on a slab, such as cost savings and less risk of damage in certain instances. The disadvantages include that heating and cooling units may have to be installed on the ground floor, which takes up living space. There is also a potential for cracks.
Why do southern houses not have basements?
Damp soil is the major culprit in most cases of missing basements in the southern states. Most parts of Florida, Louisiana, and eastern Texas have swaths of wetland or swamps or significant coastlines. So, there's just too much water underground to make basement construction feasible.
What states have no basements?
Are Basements Common In California? No, basements are not common in the state of California. This not only has to do with warmer temperatures, but it was cheaper to build homes on a basic foundation rather than over a basement.
Can you add a basement to a house that doesn't have one?
It is possible to add a basement under a house, but it will cost you. Expect to pay about $35 to $75 a square foot to turn a crawlspace into a finished basement. That means adding a 2,000 square foot basement under your home will run between $60,000 and $150,000.
Why do California homes not have basements?
With no danger of frost in much of California, foundation footings don't have to be nearly that deep. As for getting extra storage space, it's generally cheaper to build at ground level, unless real-estate prices are extremely high where you want to build.
How important is it to have a basement?
With this extra space, you can create an organized storage area where all of your precious items are easily located and accessed. Additionally, it is also a perfect place to store backup food storage and other canned goods that can become cluttered if kept in your normal living space.
Is it worth getting a basement?
On average, finishing a basement gives the homeowner a return of 70% to 75% of the investment: if you spent $1,000 on improvements, it would increase the property's value by about $700. If you spent $10,000 on improvements, it would increase the value of the property by about $7,000.”
Why are basements necessary?
Building foundations need to be below the frost line in order to avoid freezing pipes. The frost line in northern states tends to be several feet below ground, so basements are a helpful addition.
What are the three types of basements?
There are 3 basic types of basements:Masonry Wall Basements. The basement walls are constructed with masonry block units. ... Precast Panel Basements. ... Poured Concrete Wall Basements. ... Choose the basement entrance carefully. ... Stairway design. ... Include windows. ... Vary lighting. ... Don't scrimp on finishes.More items...•
What is a fancy word for basement?
cellar. noununderground story of building. apartment. basement. subbasement.
Why do British houses not have basements?
In the United Kingdom, almost all new homes built since the 1960s have no cellar or basement due to the extra cost of digging down further into the sub-soil and a requirement for much deeper foundations and waterproof tanking.
What is a pile house?
Stilt houses (also called pile dwellings or lake dwellings) are houses raised on stilts (or piles) over the surface of the soil or a body of water. Stilt houses are built primarily as a protection against flooding; they also keep out vermin. The shady space under the house can be used for work or storage.
Why did colonial homes have basements?
Homes in colonial America featured basements to keep food fresh and provide space to store meat, barrels, bags of sugar and flour -- even bottles of wine. Some modern finished basements have wet bars and music systems, but the underground rooms still feature space for storage. There are advantages and disadvantages to selling a home without a basement. A lot depends on where your home is located.
Is it hard to sell a house with a basement?
Damp basements with water seeping up from the floor or through the foundation walls are a turn-off. In this case, it is harder to sell a home with a basement. But basements with drywall, ceiling molding and floors dry enough to allow carpeting or hardwood flooring are attractive to many buyers.
Do homes in the Sunbelt have basements?
Many modern homes in the Sunbelt feature concrete slab foundations with no basements, while many homes in the Midwest and Northeast have basements. A lot of this has to do with the ground and the climate. In some areas of Florida, for example, the high water table makes it impossible to install a basement. In other areas, the soil is too sandy to accomodate a basement. On the other side of the coin, many homes in colder regions feature basements. The basement area under a house means the foundation is below the frost line, so it adds a sort of interior insulation for cold climates. Underground storage areas and basements also offer safety in states with severe weather conditions. Below-ground rooms are safer during tornadoes and windstorms. Some buyers look specifically for homes with basements for this built-in protection. Building a safe area in a home without a basement, such as an interior room with no windows and heavily reinforced walls, meets the needs of these buyers. [Fact checking: CE note & #8 & #9]
What to do if you don't have a basement?
Owners of homes built without basements might consider adding a recreation room or additional closet space to compensate.
Where are basements most common?
Generally, homes with basements are seen more in the Midwest and certain Northeastern regions than in the West and in the South. In a Midwestern state like Michigan, a home basement is often a big selling point, especially if it's finished. In California, though, homes often are built on concrete slabs, meaning homebuyers might not have a preference for homes with basements.
Is a basement a selling point?
In a Midwestern state like Michigan, a home basement is often a big selling point, especially if it's finished. In California, though, homes often are built on concrete slabs, meaning homebuyers might not have a preference for homes with basements.
Can you retrofit a house without a basement?
A home without a basement could be retrofitted with one, but it's a complicated construction task. Most areas in Florida and southern cities like New Orleans feature non-basement homes. Texas is another big state where homes often don't feature basements, meaning homeowners without them shouldn't suffer delays when selling their homes. Lastly, marketing a non-basement home to potential buyers looking for such homes is the smartest home seller tactic of all.
Does a basement help sell a house?
Selling Points. In regions where homes with basements are common, having a basement can ease a home sale. Homebuyers with kids and storage needs might even restrict their searches to just homes with basements. A home without a basement in a neighborhood where a number of homes have them might not sell as quickly.
Why do we think no basement?
The reason we are thinking no basement is to save on cost of house.
Why is it so cold when you dig a basement?
When s structure is built on slab in a cold climate the cold can permeate the slab, which causes the floors to be colder and it increases heating cost. By digging a basement the floor of the basement is now well below the frost line and into the natural geothermal layer of the soil. Although the basement still feels cool it will remain 55 to 60 deg even in the harshest winters which reduces the cost of heating the structure above it.
What are the drawbacks of a hvac system?
The biggest drawbacks I've read have been: hardness of floors on joints, need for separate mechanical room, extra engineering so hvac is not run through attic, accessibility issues to plumbing etc although I've seen plenty of work arounds for this.
Is a basement good for mold?
It depends where you live. If you dont have a high water table and mold problems in the area or if the area doesnt have radon, then a basement could be a good thing. But where I live, basements are a curse. They flood, sump pumps run a lot and if the electric goes off during a torrencial down pour, your basement gets flooded with no sump pump to bail you out and things in the basement mold if there isnt any natural light. Dehumidifiers are also neccessary to keep them dry.
Is a slab house more economical?
Ive found that year round the slab house can be more economical... It's also why slab homes are often used in passive solar homes or other green building projects. There are plenty of reasons to choose a basement year round utilities cost don't majestic our top 10.
Can you build a home without a basement in Ohio?
We're building in Ohio Amish country right now and would never build without a basement . We're using 10 ft poured walls with a walkout and most builders here see that as the norm. As someone said, it's the cheapest space to build and it's not something that can be changed or added later.
Is it cheaper to heat a house on a slab or a equl?
New girl, you may want to do some more research. An insulated slab in a tight home with good indulation is often more energy efficient and cheaper to heat than an equL sized home with basement. Cooling a house on slab is usually cheaper. Ive found that year round the slab house can be more economical...
What to do if you don't have a basement during a tornado?
If you do not have a basement, safe-room, or underground shelter during a tornado warning, and you don’t have time to go somewhere that does, go to the lowest level of the building you are in to a small interior room with no windows, like a closet, bathroom,or under a stairwell. Have as many walls between you and the exterior as possible.
What is a safe room?
A Safe Room designed to meet FEMA guidelines ( FEMA P-320, and FEMA P- 361) will provide you with “ very high probability of being protected from injury or death “. These Safe Rooms may be either above ground or below ground . You may have Public or Community Safe Rooms in your area.
Where to put a tornado warning in a basement?
For those of you fortunate enough to have a basement during a tornado warning, the safest location in a basement is away from any windows, and towards the interior of the basement . Under the stairs is a good option . Try to avoid being directly under heavy objects on the floor above you, like appliances, a piano, or heavy furniture.
Where to be during a tornado warning?
The safest place to be during a Tornado Warning is completely underground or in a safe room . If you have an underground shelter, basement, or access to a safe-room built to FEMA standards during a tornado warning, use it. If not, below is some advice for you.
Where is the safest place to go during a tornado?
Safest Location in the Basement during a Tornado. It was once believed that the safest location was the SouthWest corner of the basement due to most storms coming from that direction, but this is no longer the case. For those of you fortunate enough to have a base ment during a tornado warning, the safest location in a basement is away ...
Can you wake up with tornado alerts?
If you’ve owned your phone fora little while, you have likely received one of these alerts if they are enabled. If you plan on using your phone to wake you during a tornado warning, make sure you have the alerts enabled and the volume for alerts turned on while you sleep.
Can you find shelter in a tornado?
In some cases, you may have more time to find shelter if it is a long tracking tornado . Know what your options; if you have time, consider getting to a building with a better shelter if your home does not have a basement. If you do seek a shelter away from you location, make sure you have enough time to get to it ; there may be a lot of traffic if others are also trying to escape the tornado or get to better shelter.
