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Old 06-25-2009, 10:33 PM
 
Location: Central Texas
20,958 posts, read 45,189,088 times
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Our attic goes the full length of our home and most of the width. It's floored, and we keep a LOT of stuff up there. We have stairs to it.

As for it being common practice here for newer homes to have the hot water heater in the attic, I've seen a few of those, but most of the hot water heaters in the homes that I've seen (and due to my occupation, I've seen more homes than the average person) have the hot water heaters on the main floor, usually in the garage.
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Old 06-25-2009, 11:02 PM
 
7,987 posts, read 10,329,287 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady View Post
Our attic goes the full length of our home and most of the width. It's floored, and we keep a LOT of stuff up there. We have stairs to it.

As for it being common practice here for newer homes to have the hot water heater in the attic, I've seen a few of those, but most of the hot water heaters in the homes that I've seen (and due to my occupation, I've seen more homes than the average person) have the hot water heaters on the main floor, usually in the garage.
I thought it was common to have them in the garage too, until we were looking at houses. Every house we looked at had them in the attic. Seriously - every one.

And we have a great attic too. We have the traditional pull down ladder, but we also have a walk-out attic where we keep a ton of stuff. But it is crazy hot in there. The cable guy refused to do our install when we moved in because it was too hot. And you sure as heck can't store anything like candles or old videotapes up there.
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Old 06-25-2009, 11:26 PM
 
Location: Dripping Springs , TX
786 posts, read 2,752,054 times
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Can't replace a good basement even when you have one here. Our house does have a walkout basement but it is just a rec room. No room for storage.

Attics do not replace a basement, but ,,, we're living in Texas now, so we must adapt.
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Old 06-26-2009, 08:19 AM
 
Location: Austin
7,244 posts, read 21,705,405 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mm57553 View Post
I thought it was common to have them in the garage too, until we were looking at houses. Every house we looked at had them in the attic. Seriously - every one.
The majority of 2 story newer homes I see have them in the attic, however, 1 story homes still usually put them in the garage. People want their garage space so it's easier to stick them in the attic and out of the way...

However, if they ever explode or leak, the attic is not the best place for them... Both of my water heaters are in the attic and none of the builders in my community put them in the garage.
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Old 06-26-2009, 08:21 AM
 
Location: Austin
1,774 posts, read 3,776,417 times
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Originally Posted by iceshots View Post
Can't replace a good basement even when you have one here. Our house does have a walkout basement but it is just a rec room. No room for storage.

Attics do not replace a basement, but ,,, we're living in Texas now, so we must adapt.
Good basement is the operative phrase. Not too terrific when they flood and all of your things get ruined.
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Old 06-26-2009, 09:08 AM
 
Location: Driftwood TX
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Its just cheaper, and Texans accept it. Is digging a basement more costly than pouring a slab. yes. But some people in TX are starting to dig them. Texans love to say theres too much rock for basements when really its just that there's no need for footings going deep since there's virtually no frost heave. It is actually a much easier dig in TX than in is in say Vermont, where you might need to blast granite. Limestone and caliche are very soft by comparison, so if you want a basement, there are builders in central tx doing them now, but you will have to decide if the space is worth the cost. A sloping lot and a walkout basement is a little more common.
Cheers
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Old 06-26-2009, 02:16 PM
 
Location: Hutto, Tx
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I'm happy as a clam with just my attic.
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Old 06-26-2009, 03:02 PM
 
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Here in Steiner and points West of Austin, I can see where the rock would be an issue. Someone puts in a pool, and they pretty much have to use dynomite.

But are they more common in other parts of Texas? The only other area I've lived in is Houston, and I was told that they don't have basements there because the soil is too sandy and it is too close to sea level - although they have basements in New Jersey, and that's on the coast
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Old 06-26-2009, 03:22 PM
 
Location: Central Texas
20,958 posts, read 45,189,088 times
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They're not particularly common in any of the areas of Texas I've lived in. (East Texas, DFW area, Central Texas.)

I was thinking about how I solved the problem when I didn't have a huge attic or a garage. I realized that my solution was - don't have so much stuff! What a concept. Now that I have the room, I've filled it up with stuff I don't use.
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Old 06-26-2009, 04:08 PM
 
Location: Dripping Springs , TX
786 posts, read 2,752,054 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady View Post
They're not particularly common in any of the areas of Texas I've lived in. (East Texas, DFW area, Central Texas.)

I was thinking about how I solved the problem when I didn't have a huge attic or a garage. I realized that my solution was - don't have so much stuff! What a concept. Now that I have the room, I've filled it up with stuff I don't use.

I'm just waiting for the fall and the high school garage sale. We've been hanging on to everything because we were not able to donate last year (being new and no stuff arrived yet).

Can't wait to get my garage back!!
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