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Old 10-31-2012, 01:18 PM
 
82 posts, read 238,706 times
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Wondering if anyone living in north Texas is from a northern state and familiar with basements...(a real one)...and if you have one here or know of anyone having one here....

1. Are they really that big of a deal because of the soil? Do you have problems? If so, like what?

2. If so, why don't slabs move and have all the problems they say a basement has?

2. What is average cost if you want to build a home with a full basement under it?

3. Why don't you see more homes with basements? You would think with as hot as it is people would love to hang out in a finished basement in the summer....where its nice and cool....not only that, but also all the extra storage space...and safety from storms, etc.

4. If not, Why not?
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Old 10-31-2012, 01:24 PM
 
Location: Austin
7,244 posts, read 21,802,928 times
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Money, Money, Money. Prices of homes would go up drastically to accommodate the expense and warranty of a basement. They aren't necessary because of the freeze line, and people don't like to buy things that aren't necessary.
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Old 10-31-2012, 02:19 PM
 
Location: North Texas
24,561 posts, read 40,271,907 times
Reputation: 28559
Quote:
Originally Posted by ohiosgreat View Post
Wondering if anyone living in north Texas is from a northern state and familiar with basements...(a real one)...and if you have one here or know of anyone having one here....

1. Are they really that big of a deal because of the soil? Do you have problems? If so, like what?

2. If so, why don't slabs move and have all the problems they say a basement has?

2. What is average cost if you want to build a home with a full basement under it?

3. Why don't you see more homes with basements? You would think with as hot as it is people would love to hang out in a finished basement in the summer....where its nice and cool....not only that, but also all the extra storage space...and safety from storms, etc.

4. If not, Why not?
Houses here are not built with basements because they are not necessary to prevent shift during freeze/thaw cycles. If they're not necessary, they're usually not built. There are also reasons not to build a basement that vary from region to region in Texas from extremely rocky sub-soils making excavation difficult/expensive to high water tables that would leave a basement prone to flooding.
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Old 10-31-2012, 02:29 PM
 
Location: DFW
40,952 posts, read 49,166,535 times
Reputation: 55003
There was another thread about basements about a week ago. I ran an MLS search for the entire North TX Region and there were about 175 homes showing with basements. Most were older homes and in the country.
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Old 10-31-2012, 02:47 PM
 
37,315 posts, read 59,844,229 times
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Foundations will shift if not property constructed and maintained...that is why people try to keep the area around the baseline of their houses watered during the year...
Dry/clay soils compact and pull way and that can cause weight of house to crack foundation

It is foolish to build basements in TX for the most part--way more trouble than benefit and would drive the costs of SFR up by 50% or more in all likelihood...
Just because it is necessary in some parts of the country doesn't mean all require it...
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Old 11-01-2012, 06:23 PM
 
Location: Texas
37,949 posts, read 17,856,305 times
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Very inexpensive way to add square footage to your house. Make sure to get a test to check how far down the water table is. And of course make sure the yard drains water away from the house.
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Old 11-01-2012, 08:23 PM
 
37,315 posts, read 59,844,229 times
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Finding a builder willing to consider building a basement in house for the same price per sq ft as conventional abov ground construction would be a feat in itself...
MOST builders have no clue about how to construct a functional basement for this type of soil zone...
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Old 11-01-2012, 08:45 PM
 
Location: North Texas
24,561 posts, read 40,271,907 times
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Some very high-end/custom homes in PH/Park Cities have basements, wine cellars, underground garages, etc. It can be done and there are builders who can do it, and do it well. However, it's far from cheap!
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Old 11-01-2012, 10:04 PM
 
Location: Dallas area, Texas
2,353 posts, read 3,861,069 times
Reputation: 4173
I'm really curious as to why people think that basements would be safe in a tornado. Many times in a tornado the house collapses. If you are in a basement, then you are buried in a hole under all of the debris, making it harder to be rescued.
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Old 11-01-2012, 10:48 PM
 
Location: Texas
37,949 posts, read 17,856,305 times
Reputation: 10371
Basements per foot are less expensive than the above ground footage. Dig a hole and pour concrete. Dont have to mess with siding or windows. Don't have to mess with roofing costs because the ground floor is the roof. The ground insulates well so less insulation is needed.
If its mainly for storage or a shelter it doesn't have to be finished out as well as the rest of the house.
It was fairly inexpensive for me.

Basements are also not included in the square footage when determining property tax.
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