Basements are more common in some other parts of the country than in Middle Tennessee, where rocky conditions encourage the use of crawl spaces or concrete slab construction. “Many people relocating from areas where basements are a staple are really excited to see them here because they are so rare,” said Lucy.
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Why don t houses in Tennessee have basements?
The chief culprit of most missing basements in the South is damp soil.Even in drier climates, the clay composition in the soil can make basements impractical or even dangerous. While this kind of soil doesn’t have enough water in it to cause flooding, mold, or rot, it can play havoc with the basement walls.
Do all houses in Tennessee have basements?
Homes with basements are not evenly distributed across Tennessee.Regional construction trends across Tennessee mean that some parts of the state have more homes with basements.
Which states have no basements?
In many parts of the south, this means that there is swampland or wetlands. Where the water table is high, it is simply not feasible to dig too deep underground. In Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Eastern Texas, the soil is particularly damp, which explains the minimal number of basements there.
Why doesn’t Texas have basements?
Phil Crone, executive director for the Dallas Builders Association, said basements are also not as common in Texas because the frost line — the depth below the ground where the soil does not freeze in the winter — is much shallower in Texas than up north.
What is the purpose of a basement?
It generally is used as a utility space for a building, where such items as the boiler, water heater, breaker panel or fuse box, car park, and air-conditioning system are located; so also are amenities such as the electrical distribution system and cable television distribution point.
Why do Americans have basements?
And while some homes are better built without basements because of moisture issues, there are still millions of existing basements that need help. The reason we have basements at all is because years ago people needed to have frost-free spaces before the days that heating systems kept homes above freezing all the time.
Why don t Las Vegas homes have basements?
Basements require a lot more excavation than your typical pool, according to experts.According to the late, great Las Vegas historian Hal Rothman, the absence of basements in Las Vegas — and their accompanying storage space — made the three-car garage a coveted status symbol. Questions for Mr.
Why do some states not have basements?
Basements built in California are often below sea level, so extra measures must be taken to prevent flooding and other water-related issues. Most contractors working in California try to reduce expenses wherever possible, and excluding basements from homes fulfills this goal.
What is a Michigan basement?
A Michigan basement is defined as a crawl space that has been dug out into a basement.The floor and walls can be exposed dirt, stone, brick or cinder block and many Michigan basements have common problems with moisture, water leaks, and structural integrity.
Are basements illegal in Texas?
If Peewee had known just a little bit about Texas real estate, he would have known that most homes in Texas don’t have basements.In other parts of the country, home builders must dig deep to make it below the frost line and since they are already down in the dirt, they may as well put in a basement.
Can any house have a basement?
Not every property is right for a basement extension. As a general rule, it’s better to extend above ground if possible because it’s easier to provide ventilation and natural light, plus it’s usually cheaper.If your ground floor is made from solid concrete then creating a basement might be uneconomic.
What is a house without a basement called?
Slab homes are often built closer to the ground than homes with basements or crawl spaces, thus reducing the number of steps required to enter the home.
What is a Yankee basement?
They call it a “Yankee basement” or, well, sometimes a “root cellar,” where basically you take the interior perimeter of the foundation wall, move in about 2½, 3 feet and then dig down there. So you leave this sort of berm of soil to support the foundation that’s under the footing.
What is a walk in basement?
Walkout Basement
This is a separate exit from the door that allows you to enter into the basement from the main level. This door is situated on another part of the basement so that you can exit through it to the yard.Walkout basements are a huge value when it comes to your home.
Why are basements so scary?
Ghouls and goblins aside, however, a basement also can be scary when it comes to home maintenance. Basements are vulnerable to intrusion by water, damage by rot and invasion by pests such as termites and rodents. Most house a maze of exposed plumbing pipes, heating ducts and exhaust flues.
How deep should a basement be?
For a full basement, your foundation depth will be below frost depth. Basements have footings, and typically 8-foot walls built on a 4-inch concrete slab. The slab will serve as the floor of a room underground, where you can store your home’s mechanical and HVAC system or make use of it as storage.
What’s the difference between a cellar and a basement?
A true basement is below grade and can be half a level above the street. A cellar, on the other hand, is below ground. A basement may have windows.
Are basements allowed in California?
For transplants from the Midwest and East, it is downright puzzling why California homes generally do not have basements, a staple in other parts of the country.In addition, fear of earthquakes was often cited as a reason for the dearth of basements in the Golden State.
Can I build a basement in Florida?
It is technically possible to build a basement in some parts of Florida. In Central Florida, such as in Clermont, there is hilly terrain that spans for many miles. Basements can be built into the side of a hill and be partially underground and partially above ground.
Why don’t they have basements in Arizona?
“Essentially, the expansive and hard soils in the Valley do create challenges for basements to be easily built, and that can often make them expensive,” said Jacque Petroulakis, a spokesperson for PulteGroup.So basically, builders don’t want to spend the extra time and money.
