Are there really houses without basements in Maine? (new home, buy)

[RANGER.101ST]

the benefit of not haveing a basement is.not haveing to have a sump pump not haveing to worry about water flooding your basement and destroying you stuff or even worse your heating system.

[Valley Living]

I agree with Maineah! but a person would only need between 6 and 8 inches for a cement slab. If you want it heated that will cost ya, but you will not regret it! Trust me!!!

[Maineah]

I could swim in my basement after every 3 inch rain storm. Without a sump pump I would have to replace my furnace burner annually and it's up 8 inches from the floor on blocks!

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Valley Living

I agree with Maineah! but a person would only need between 6 and 8 inches for a cement slab. If you want it heated that will cost ya, but you will not regret it! Trust me!!!

True.... though we had a 12" slab at that duplex we used to own and it was bombproof!

[Nor'Eastah]

Originally Posted by Maineah

I could swim in my basement after every 3 inch rain storm. Without a sump pump I would have to replace my furnace burner annually and it's up 8 inches from the floor on blocks!

I can relate, Maineah!

Our basement has everything up on cement blocks...furnace, extra refrigerator, winter-stored deck furniture. We also get lots of 3-4" flooding with winter rains and spring snowmelt. We also have a sump pump, as you do. Can't store anything down there made of fabric or cardboard, as it gets all mildewed.

When we build in Maine, we will not have a basement, regardless of the land type. A contractor friend told us it was just 30% more building cost for space that would never be really useable.

So we decided to just put in a foundation with crawl space, insulate well underneath, and maybe later build a barn - like you! - for storage!

[chiisai]

Originally Posted by FLGUY

YES AND THERE ARE HOMES IN Florida with Fall Out shelters -- Google "Cape Coral House Fall Out shelter" - How neat - A Blast from the past.

Have you been to Peanut Island?

That is where JFK had his bomb shelter, during the Cuban Missile crisis.

It is a man-made island, in the middle of the West Palm Beach Intercoastal. I've been there a few times, it is now open to the public for tours, The Coast Guard operates the tours, but anyone can visit if you have a boat. It's a great place for a picnic!

The boat leaves from West Palm, and takes visitors to the island on a regular schedule.

[retiredtinbender]

Now here's a home with a real basement! Missile Bases :: 20th Century Castles, Unique underground properties. Plenty more where that comes from too.

[wabanaki]

why crawl space? , it is a useless space with additional cost and problem with critters and moisture.
why not just build on the slab, it can be insulate under the concrete.

Originally Posted by Nor'Eastah

I can relate, Maineah!

Our basement has everything up on cement blocks...furnace, extra refrigerator, winter-stored deck furniture. We also get lots of 3-4" flooding with winter rains and spring snowmelt. We also have a sump pump, as you do. Can't store anything down there made of fabric or cardboard, as it gets all mildewed.

When we build in Maine, we will not have a basement, regardless of the land type. A contractor friend told us it was just 30% more building cost for space that would never be really useable.

So we decided to just put in a foundation with crawl space, insulate well underneath, and maybe later build a barn - like you! - for storage!

[BoundtofindME]

I just did a quick search for residential property currently listed in my area. I'm showing about 25% of these do not have basements or are built on a slab.

Results for Hancock County only.

1139 residential properties are currently listed.
276 of these have no basement or are built on a slab.

Also in Hancock County, interestingly, last year, 115 properties with no basements were sold; 46 of those were listed for over $200,000; and 7 of those were listed for over $2,000,000.

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by GarlicGuy

the benefit would be not having more space to put clutter. Wish I didn't have one at times.....

I live in a split....so there is technically no basement.....my garage is filled

i will often see spilt homes where the cars are IN the driveway for what I assume is the same reason.