Why are basements more common in the north of the US?
Originally Answered: Why are basements more common in the north of the U.S. than the south? The primary reason is because foundations for homes built in the north require placement at depths beneath the "frost line" to prevent the home from shfting during freeze & thaw cycles.
Why don’t homes have basements anymore?
In the sandy soil compositions found in states from Maryland to Florida and as far out west as California, many homes were never built with basements. They are replaced in southern states with outdoor storage sheds and attic storage. And this is for a number of reasons.
What is the purpose of a basement?
In the past, they were often called cellars, and were most useful to store food that needed to be protected from the extreme hot or cold weather. A basement is cheaper to heat and cool than an upper level of the same size. We often receive calls from customers that have moved here from north of the Arkansas/Missouri state line.
What percentage of homes have basements in the south?
THE SOUTH In the southern part of the country, basements are rarer than in the north. The vast majority of homes in the South have either no basement whatsoever or have an unfinished basement. To illustrate this point, the following four states, which form the ‘West South Central’ division have a basement inclusion rate for new homes of 0.05%.
Why are basements more common up north?
Building foundations need to be below the frost line to avoid freezing and cracking in pipes. In cooler climates, the frost line is several feet below the surface, which is why many Northern homes have basements. It's simply more practical to install a basement if the foundation is already this deep to begin with.
Why do colder states have basements?
A region's frost line determines how deep into the ground residents can build their foundations. This is why basements are more common in the colder states of the nation, where the frost depth is not less than four feet below the ground. Also, homes in these regions typically have central heating systems.
Why are basements not common in the South?
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.
Why are there no basements in the West?
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.
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. However, this has been changing through the years.
Why California has no basements?
“It's easier to build without a basement if you were doing assembly-line construction.” In addition, fear of earthquakes was often cited as a reason for the dearth of basements in the Golden State.
Are basements illegal in Texas?
In still other areas, what's known as “expansive” soils—clay and/or shale that shifts around in excessively wet and excessively dry conditions, which is to say normal conditions in Texas—make a basement unworkable.
Are basements illegal in California?
Basements themselves are not illegal in California. If the basement was built without permits and approval (or even finished without a permit), you might find that yourself with an illegal basement.
Is it illegal to have a basement in Florida?
Although it is legal to build a basement in Florida, the terrain makes it difficult because you cannot dig the mandated minimum of 8 feet. Even if you manage to build a basement, there is a significant risk of a sinkhole forming due to the digging or from one of Florida's frequent natural disasters.
Why are there no brick homes in Montana?
Brick and stone are more expensive to buy and transport to the region. Water tends to seep into porous brick & mortar or stucco surfaces, which can encourage moss growth, mold or rot. This water retention is also problematic when the temperature drops in the winter.
Why are there no brick houses in California?
There are several reasons why brick isn't predominant: The climate: California's weather is pretty temperate-we don't get subzero temperatures like back East or in the Midwest, so we don't need the extra insulation. On top of that, in parts of California, it can get very hot, and brick holds heat in.
Why don t houses in Arizona have basements?
Because the ground doesn't freeze in Phoenix, you only have to dig 18 inches below the surface to pour concrete footing for a house. If you want a basement, you'll have to go out of your way to dig deeper. That's complicated by a common soil phenomena in the state called caliche.
How cold is too cold for basement?
If you have properly insulated your finished basement, you shouldn't experience temperatures lower than 60°F. The finished floors and walls will not get as cold as exposed concrete.
Are basements illegal in Texas?
In still other areas, what's known as “expansive” soils—clay and/or shale that shifts around in excessively wet and excessively dry conditions, which is to say normal conditions in Texas—make a basement unworkable.
Are basements colder or warmer in the winter?
One rule of thumb to help determine the basement temperature is to average out your area's temperature across the entire year. In the summer, the basement is often cooler than the outside air. In the winter, the basement is often warmer than the outside air.
Are basements illegal in California?
Basements themselves are not illegal in California. If the basement was built without permits and approval (or even finished without a permit), you might find that yourself with an illegal basement.
Why do northern houses have basements?
One of the main reasons why northern buildings often have basements is the depth of the frost line. When you build a home, the foundations need to be below the depth of the frost line. In the north of the country (and particularly in the midwest) this requires deep foundations, thus making a basement far more practical.
Why are basements important?
But why is that? The advantages of basements are fairly clear – they represent additional space in a house that can be converted into usable space. Failing that, they are useful areas to use either as storage or as a home for appliances, away from the main body of the house.
Why is clay soil so hard to build?
Clay soil can make building basements difficult because of the dramatic expansion and contraction as it takes on water. This places great lateral pressure on basement walls, which would almost certainly, and repeatedly, lead to water in the basement even if there was no rain.
How deep should a basement be in Florida?
Basements generally require a depth of eight or more feet. In southern Florida, the water table is roughly three feet below the surface, neatly encapsulating why basements are not feasible.
What are the features of the South?
Across the country, there is a rectangle of sandy soil; if you draw a shape, with corners in Maryland, Florida, and northern and southern California, you have drawn a shape inside which the soil is extremely sandy.
How many new homes don't have basements?
Each of these also overlaps with geographical differences within the US. This guide will discuss why 68% of new homes don’t have basements, and why the presence of a basement is very much dependent upon location across the United States.
Why is it so hard to build a basement?
Even in parts of the country that don’t have sandy soils, there are large areas where the soil composition is especially clay-heavy. Clay soil can make building basements difficult because of the dramatic expansion and contraction as it takes on water.
Who runs North Texas basements?
Tom Werling runs North Texas Basements. He was at a walkout basement that he's building in a ritzy neighborhood in Fort Worth. He said he spends a lot of his day just trying to convince people that basements are possible and affordable.
Where to take shelter during a tornado?
After all, meteorologists say basements are one of the best places to take shelter during a tornado. Folks told him it has a lot do with the soil: It’s expansive. “When it gets wet, it swells up; when it dries up in the summer, it shrinks,” he said. “Those are a lot of forces, and a lot of engineering that has to happen” to build a basement.
Can you build a basement below the freeze line?
Up north, builders build down deeper to get the foundation below the freeze line. Since they’re already down there, it’s fairly inexpensive to make a basement and add square footage that way.
Why do people build basements?
In the past, they were often called cellars, and were most useful to store food that needed to be protected from the extreme hot or cold weather.
Why do bricks crack?
The brick cracks are due to one area of the foundation sitting on soil that has died out while an adjacent area, perhaps where the flowers had been watered daily, may have swelled due to excess moisture .
Does the ground freeze in winter?
This foundation must rest on stable earthen material that is deep enough not to freeze in the winter. Yes, the ground does freeze, just like everything else that contains moisture!
Does McCain use sloping land?
As prime building land becomes increasingly rare, McCain is making use of sloping land and other sites that require deep foundations. The marginal cost of including a basement is greatly reduced as it effectively provides the building with the deep foundations that it needs.
Why are basements rare in the North?
When water in the ground freezes, it expands by about 9%. If that water is under the house footings, that expansion can cracks and heave concrete.
Why is my basement wet?
There are several reasons basements have a reputation for being damp. Dig a hole in the ground and depending on how well-drained the soil is and the level of ground water, the hole is likely to fill with water. Houses built on sandy, well-draining soil and houses that are more elevated have fewer water issues. Another cause of basement moisture occurs in humid climates, where warm, moist, summer air condenses on contact with cool basement surfaces. It may seem counterintuitive but opening basement windows in humid climates can make basements wetter. Your best bet is to close the windows and run a dehumidifier.
How high should a basement ceiling be?
Another consideration is ceiling height. Basements often have less than 8 feet from the slab to the floor joists above, and beams and ducts may be lower. The final height below such protrusions must be at least 76 inches, and the overall finished ceiling height must be at least 7 feet. If you’re building new, having a 9-foot basement wall instead of the more typical 8 feet can be a good investment.
What type of concrete is used for basement walls?
Insulating concrete forms (ICFs), permanent rigid foam forms that are filled with concrete showed up in the 1980s and offer insulation as well as strength. Most recently, precast concrete panels that are craned into place and connected with stainless steel bolts have been used for basement walls.
How far should a sump pump drain from the foundation?
Sump pumps must drain at least 10 feet from the foundation, or the water will just come back in (Likewise with roof downspouts). The ground around the house should slope away at least 1 foot for every 10 to keep surface water away.
Where are the drains on a house?
If the house is on higher ground, the drains are usually outside the footings and pipes that lead out of the ground lower down dispose of the water. On flatter sites, the drains are often inside the footings under the floor slab and lead to a sump pump that ejects the water outside.
Can you use a basement for living space?
Using a Basement for Living Space. Unless you’ve dealt with water issues, basements can be moldy, unpleasant places. Before spending money finishing a basement, be sure it isn’t going to flood and that you have a plan to deal with summer humidity or you may be setting yourself up for a moldy disaster.
Frost Lines in North Carolina Are Shallow
Frost lines describe how deep the ground freezes in cold weather. In many northern states, this line goes about 5 to 6 feet deep. In North Carolina, however, this frost line is only about 1.5 feet deep.
Basements Often an Unjustified Expense
Unfortunately, almost all basements in the U.S. endure water damage at some point—around 98 percent. That statistic practically guarantees a homeowner will need to unexpectedly spend on water damage for their basement at least once under the best of conditions.
Are There Ever Basements in North Carolina?
When a basement is built in a North Carolina home, it is often constructed in a “basement lot” or sloped lot. This means it is built only partially into the ground that slopes at enough of an angle to promote water drainage. In addition, these basements typically have access to the outdoors since they’re partially above ground.
Conclusion
Basements do exist in North Carolina, but they’re uncommon. This is because of the state’s:
Why are basements so habitable?
In addition to technology to eliminate the moisture from basements, thus making them much more habitable, society has evolved to require much less storage in our homes. Subsequently, instead of musty old storage spaces, home basements became increasingly used as recreation rooms and spaces to entertain… unless, of course, the home doesn’t have a basement.
Why are basements missing in the South?
And this is for a number of reasons. The chief culprit of most missing basements in the South is damp soil. This is especially true in places like Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and eastern Texas.
What is a basement?
Basements were originally designed as a storage space for water, wine and food. Being underground spaces, they were traditionally damp, musty places wherein whatever is stored should be protected in glass or tin. However, with advances in technology, such as sump pumps and dehumidifiers, dehumidifying these spaces has become increasingly seamless.
Why do you need a loose pack for a basement?
Because of the aforementioned soil movement issues, a loose pack ensures that the foundations and flooring of the basement will rise and fall dramatically throughout the seasons, especially in summer when rainfall and high heat result in rapid expansion and contraction. To counter this, builders should start basement and foundation projects with a strong soil pack and even consider adding a lime mixture to ground trenches to offset the moisture levels.
Why do you need to be below the frost line?
Building foundations need to be below the frost line to avoid freezing and cracking in pipes. In cooler climates, the frost line is several feet below the surface, which is why many Northern homes have basements. It’s simply more practical to install a basement if the foundation is already this deep to begin with. In warmer places, like central Florida and Georgia, the frost line tends to be much closer to the surface. Subsequently, home builders don’t bother with the extra expense of building a basement.
What percentage of homes in the Mason Dixon line have basements?
The percent of homes north of the Mason-Dixon Line with basements is close to 90%. In the sandy soil compositions found in states from Maryland to Florida and as far out west as California, many homes were never built with basements. They are replaced in southern states with outdoor storage sheds and attic storage.
Can you build a basement if the foundation is already deep?
It’s simply more practical to install a basement if the foundation is already this deep to begin with. In warmer places, like central Florida and Georgia, the frost line tends to be much closer to the surface. Subsequently, home builders don’t bother with the extra exp ense of building a basement .
