Where are the basements? (Howe, China: new house, square footage, kitchen cabinets)

[Idlewile]

Bless you, Texas basements experts, for setting us all straight, revealing why basements are foolish and stupid.

I especially like the clay and unstable soil explanation. Places like Colorado must be doing it wrong.

It's so hard to just say, no, they don't build them here. Fallacies are always better.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by John7777

I've seen basements in Dallas houses that were for sale. They made a big deal about the house having a basement. I guess anything is possible if you want to spend the extra money.

I think they are easier to construct in Dallas than here because of the topography. Also, Dallas is very prone to tornadoes, and basements double as a storm shelter.

[dbsteel]

Humidity in the basement...... that's why they make dehumidifiers.

There is really no reason you can't make a basement in Texas if it's done correctly. And there isn't a rock the size of China underneath.

[G Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by Idlewile

Bless you, Texas basements experts, for setting us all straight, revealing why basements are foolish and stupid.

I especially like the clay and unstable soil explanation. Places like Colorado must be doing it wrong.

It's so hard to just say, no, they don't build them here. Fallacies are always better.

Well, I could do without the sarcasm, but this is mostly what I was trying to say in my last entry; the real reason is that developers don't make as much money if they put in a basement, so they have convinced us all that it just can't be done. Lots of excuses, but not much in the way of reasons.

It reminds me of another developer perpetuated assumption; that a quality house has stone or brick on at least 3 sides, preferably 4. This is just a scam to me. Houses have different kinds of exteriors all over the country, and in adverse weather conditions, too. Lots of Texans have just bought the idea, and that's just what the developers want, because it nets them higher profits. New comers from out of state are also told that its the only way to have a quality house, and they buy it, too, and the myth continues.

[Trainwreck20]

that a quality house has stone or brick on at least 3 sides, preferably 4. This is just a scam to me.

I have lived in brick, stone, and 'siding' houses. I will never buy another one that is not brick or stone, just based on the maintenance requirements alone. I do prefer the look, as well, but that is just a side benefit. And the cost differential is minuscule here, since the transportation costs are just about nil. This has nothing to do (for me) with what some developer says.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by cBach

89.31F average ground temperature is quite hot. Yes, it decreases down at 10 feet. But your A/C has to cool concrete that is up against 89F dirt down quite a ways. It is easier to cool a wall against 89F air than 89F ground.

By 10 ft it is at 75 degrees so around 1.5 degrees per ft.

I suspect the basement will be just as cool as up north, especially since heat rises.

Also up north basements are extremely humid.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by G Grasshopper

Well, I could do without the sarcasm, but this is mostly what I was trying to say in my last entry; the real reason is that developers don't make as much money if they put in a basement, so they have convinced us all that it just can't be done. Lots of excuses, but not much in the way of reasons.

It reminds me of another developer perpetuated assumption; that a quality house has stone or brick on at least 3 sides, preferably 4. This is just a scam to me. Houses have different kinds of exteriors all over the country, and in adverse weather conditions, too. Lots of Texans have just bought the idea, and that's just what the developers want, because it nets them higher profits. New comers from out of state are also told that its the only way to have a quality house, and they buy it, too, and the myth continues.

Actually stone houses require much less exterior maintenance. Luckily stone is incredibly cheap here. In the midwest and out east wood has historically been cheap because of all the forests. Stone was expensive because the ground didnt always have huge veins of stone like we have here so had to be shipped in. With limestone being a local material and wood having to be shipped in, stone is not hugely more expensive.

If you want durability, stone or brick is what you want. Repainting the exterior of the house every 5-10 years is no fun. In the interim the paint starts peeling.

[JH6]

I had a basement in an old house in New York.

It was real fun to watch it flood every time it rained. Or leak when it drizzled.

It was 7 foot high and about 2000 sq foot.

Nobody needs that much junk.

I got rid of everything and live in a 1000 sq foot ranch house in Round Rock now. Its amazing how much stuff you DON'T need.

[mesmer]

I know of an older (1930s-1950s) ranch style home that has since been turned into a business. It has a full unfinished basement that is being used for storage. The idea that we "can't" have basements anywhere in the area because it's not traditional or not wise is ludicrous. If someone could build a fully functional basement 70 years ago, someone could manage to build one now.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by mesmer

I know of an older (1930s-1950s) ranch style home that has since been turned into a business. It has a full unfinished basement that is being used for storage. The idea that we "can't" have basements anywhere in the area because it's not traditional or not wise is ludicrous. If someone could build a fully functional basement 70 years ago, someone could manage to build one now.

70 years ago, there wasn't a lot of construction going on around here. Everything was pretty much custom done, and if you look downtown, most of the buildings are on different levels, i.e. have basements in the sense that one sidewalk entrance can be below another and there are therefore portions "underground".

It was when mass building started during the Sunbelt boom days.

If you want the real reason, it's liability, but it can be done:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9iUCOgPRPw