Do you need a basement? - Page 3

[Peppermint Leaf]

Originally Posted by the_lissa

Yeah, we plan on finishing our basement when our kids are older, so they have a place to hang out alone or with their friends if they want. Having a finished basement or an in law suite in your basement greatly increases the value of your house here.

Totally
and -- you will also find your home a little bit warmer.

also - if this is a long term plan -- a basement was very important to us as DS approached teen years ... allows you to set up a great place for the kids to meet - and most importantly you know where they are!!

[tayndrewsmama]

Originally Posted by Peppermint Leaf

and -- you will also find your home a little bit warmer.

That hadn't even occurred to me, but I can definitely see that being a big thing too. We heat with a wood pellet stove in the basement and since heat rises the floors aren't ever really cold at all. I would think that in cold weather the floors would be pretty cool with no heated space below. I looooooooooove our pellet stove for heating.

[Amys1st]

I am in the suburbs of Chicago. Growing up our colonial style house did not have a basement. My parents being from the east coast didnt think anything of it, but anyone from this area would not think twice about having a basement. While looking at houses, DH would not even look at houses without basements. Resale is tougher around here if you do not have a bsmt.

We have a 2 story that used to be a ranch before a previous owner added 3 bedrooms on top. Since its a ranch, we have a large basement. It has an alcove for a "shop" area so DH has two workshops since the heated garage has his woodshop. It has a laundry area, a huge pantry plus a large great area. Right now, its set up with about a millon toys and work out area. Dh will not create a tv area or carpet it so we will "finish" it with a painted floor and walls etc. Then a carpet rolled out instead of wall to wall because of flooding. The kids play down there and can fit at least a dozen more while the adults are upstairs.

I have seen basements that need Peter walsh to come and rescue, basmements w home theatres, basements done up for kids, apartments styles and even kitchens.

When friends of ours moved to Seattle, the no basement thing blew their mind.

[greenmansions]

I would never be without a basement. I also would never be in a low-lying lot. We are on a hill and have a nice, dry, not-smelly basement. That is in general the philosophy of my immediate family - high ground, with a basement.

The thing I have noticed about houses without basements is that they are cold. The floors are cold and often damp. When DH lived in Arizona, even there the floor was cold in the winter (but dry). I know of several people without basements who pulled up carpeting and found the padding all mildewed. Maybe there is something that was not done correctly in their homes. I'm not sure.

What is the norm in your area? What is your climate like?

[CBell]

The norm here is basement - although most people in the area that I ask say not to do a basement. The winters are cold here but the new modular houses have really good insulation in the floor so I don't think the floor would be cold. We are pricing out what a basement would cost and are also looking at some houses that are 2000 sq ft - then we would definitely not do a basement. Thanks everyone for your advice.