Add a basement to a house

[Upstatemax]

Although I miss the storage, I really like NOT having a basement. I'm on a slab and have corkboard and hardwood floors. The slab gives the entire floor a very "solid" feel, and the corkboard feels a little softer to offset that. There are no creaks or sound as you walk across it. I'd keep the slab.

+1

I like the storage I get from my basement, but I hate dealing with it. We have a high water table here so water is a constant fear for me. I've never flooded but people around me have. We have an underground stream in my area and after Hurricane Irene one of my neighbors had five foot of water in his basement and has had flooding issues ever since, it seems the stream busted a new branch right at his house...

Plus my floors don't have that nice solid slab feel. I'm looking at adding more joist to my floors in the basement to take some of the "spring" out of my floors.

basements are VERY common up here. The only homes that don't come with them at this point are very small starter homes or townhomes... Neither are an option for me.

If you do one, they need to be done right; high ceilings, insulated concrete, water sealing inside and out, proper french drain...

It's expensive to do one right and most builders skip a lot of steps on them. You have to watch them like a hawk.

[mrbiron]

Step #1 - Cut hole in concrete slab. preferably in a closet.
Step #2 - Dig
Step #3 - Hanger pictures on dirt walls.

Wala!

Caution. With dirt walls, be prepared to have every worm on a 1/4mile radius in your new HT. They like vibrations and your sub will become their vest friend.

[cnh]

It would probably be cheaper to build a bunker / basement next to your house. Then have an access point / steps built into or on to the side your house.

I'm with booker on this one! A friend of mine had his house "extended". He already had a basement so what they did is added a Master suite to the back of the house with a New "basement" under that. That would certainly be easier. This was done in the mid-nineties and not in Ca. but in Me. where building costs are a FRACTION of what you guys pay in "overpriced" real estateville! He spent about $70,000 on the entire project but this including the expansion of the first floor, master suite and an extra bedroom and bath on that first floor, the roofing and the poured concrete basement.

As for earthquakes! There is a kind of reinforced concrete with metal fibrous materials mixed into it that the Japanese use that is, I believe, 50 times greater in strength than common concrete walls. I have no idea what that would run, but it's 'designed' for earthquakes!

cnh

[tonyb]

Your correct on the earthquake proof concrete. Much times it's used in footings for taller buildings and bridges. But for the average homeowner, the cost would be out right crazy. Incidently, nothing is earthquake proof so to speak. These special concretes are designed to be more flexible for the many minor quakes areas such as Cali gets. Given a large quake however, crap comes down no matter what you do. Unless they start designing buildings that float on air, everything is anchored to the ground which can move alot in an earthquake zone. A basement may stay intact, but the cracks that would be created would make it unlivable/usable afterwards.

[wayne3burk]

build a media room over the garage - or an addition to the back of the house - or a separate out-building on the back 40.... yeah thats it, a separate outbuilding will work.

[BlueFox]

I like the bunker idea. The backyard is big enough for a good size listening/HT room, and it can be covered over with grass. I have thought of the over the garage or second floor option, but I was thinking the basement would be better for sound proofing.

[disneyjoe7]

I've noticed that, why is it so?

One word....


Earthquake

[tonyb]

I like the bunker idea. The backyard is big enough for a good size listening/HT room, and it can be covered over with grass. I have thought of the over the garage or second floor option, but I was thinking the basement would be better for sound proofing.

Why not both, the top you can turn into an observation deck....if you have anything to observe that is. Like maybe a hot neighbor who sun tans naked, I dunno. Or a covered patio on the top. Options are endless. Heck, open a outdoor bar up on the roof, 5 buck cover, make some money.

[tophatjohnny]

I have had basements in my 2 homes, and love it. Place to keep my drums and practice, so I try to keep it nice. Not remodeled, just nice. Kinda gives that Jam atmosphere and I dig it. Also keep the foosball table down there for unsuspecting victims!!