I live in Iowa (hello tornadoes) so a basement is a must for me/common around here. I understand areas that don't need it but it is "free" space! Your house is already on the lot, why not go under it too?
I live on the west coast; basements are really rare around here. As in, I can't think of a single person I know who has one. A nice attic would be great.
Why?
I can think of a few reasons, but they are probably varying locally - in the north east, foundations have to extend a certain depth below frost line (on the order of 3.5-4' or higher) so it might make sense to excavated the area out anyways versus digging a trench for the foundation versus just having a crawl space if you only have to put your foundations more shallow.
Otherwise, it could be shallow bedrock, high water tables, or the presence of clay soil that would make having a full basement much more expensive.
I live on the west coast; basements are really rare around here. As in, I can't think of a single person I know who has one. A nice attic would be great.
Why?
My first assumption was earthquakes. Also, the Internet tells me it's much cheaper. Pretty much what 3magicbeans said.
We basically have a crawl space under the house and a crawl space above. And the house we live in right now has vaulted ceilings in 3/4 of the house, so the "attic" crawl space must be really tiny.
Post by redhorizon343 on Jan 25, 2015 20:13:21 GMT -5
My personal dream house..... 2-3 car garage (or 2 car garage and ample basement storage) fire place (a TRUE dream would be to have a gas one in the master bedroom too) guest room with bath sky lights walk in closets open floor plan eat in kitchen laundry room on same floor as bedrooms (or in basement with a laundry chute!) play room practice room (for musics) Fenced in back yard (for the pup) Hot tub (dreaming really big, here) Sun room back deck wrap around front porch 0-1 goddamn flights of stairs (we currently live in a split and have 4 sets of stairs)
Yeah, I'm not going to hold my breath, but those are some ideas. That kind of house would cost millions in our area. I was glad we were able to buy a house with two toilets.
I live in Iowa (hello tornadoes) so a basement is a must for me/common around here. I understand areas that don't need it but it is "free" space! Your house is already on the lot, why not go under it too?
Ah! Stuck in quote box....Anyway, some areas aren't cut out for basements. I live inland in the NE where the soil is like clay, so basements come standard. But in beach towns the homes are on stilts because of flooding. Also in dessert areas or any place the ground is sandy it's too difficult to dig out a basement.
Like central air. There is a canister in our basement that holds a bag and we have ports in the floor that you plug a long vacuum hose into. No lugging around a heavy vacuum and dealing with the cord.
I used to clean a house that had this but anywhere they had hardwood they had ports built into the wall that you just swept the dirt too, pushed the button and it sucked up - it was amazing
Like central air. There is a canister in our basement that holds a bag and we have ports in the floor that you plug a long vacuum hose into. No lugging around a heavy vacuum and dealing with the cord.
I used to clean a house that had this but anywhere they had hardwood they had ports built into the wall that you just swept the dirt too, pushed the button and it sucked up - it was amazing
We have one of those in our kitchen. I really need to get a new bag for our canister so I use it more.
I live in Iowa (hello tornadoes) so a basement is a must for me/common around here. I understand areas that don't need it but it is "free" space! Your house is already on the lot, why not go under it too?
Ah! Stuck in quote box....Anyway, some areas aren't cut out for basements. I live inland in the NE where the soil is like clay, so basements come standard. But in beach towns the homes are on stilts because of flooding. Also in dessert areas or any place the ground is sandy it's too difficult to dig out a basement.
Actually, sandy soil is fabulous for basements since its free draining material so there is less potential for moisture.
the beachfront home on piles is major first world problems (I want a basement, but my house is on the beach....sob )
I live in Iowa (hello tornadoes) so a basement is a must for me/common around here. I understand areas that don't need it but it is "free" space! Your house is already on the lot, why not go under it too?
Ah! Stuck in quote box....Anyway, some areas aren't cut out for basements. I live inland in the NE where the soil is like clay, so basements come standard. But in beach towns the homes are on stilts because of flooding. Also in dessert areas or any place the ground is sandy it's too difficult to dig out a basement.
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