Basement rooms: in which situations they are actually needed, and in which they will be just a nuisance?

Before deciding to dig a basement, consider a few other alternatives that will meet your needs. Since they will not only require less cost, but also the refusal of cardinal, and sometimes risky actions. For example, arrange garages, attics and outbuildings for storage.

Very often the basement rooms are used to house the equipment that is needed to “run” the houses. Then why not create special mechanical spaces that are easily accessible and soundproofed? Technical systems can be integrated and hidden in every corner of the cottage.

To prevent frost from penetrating into the surrounding soil, it is worthwhile to have concealed heating devices around the tiles. Then you won’t be afraid of the cold!

Reasons not to build a basement

High Cost

To create a basement room, a lot of work needs to be done: excavation, hauling, soil accumulation, backfill, compaction and rough final grading (drainage, installation of formwork and support walls, waterproofing).

Resource-intensive

Full-size foundation walls consume a lot of concrete and require steel reinforcement to hold them structurally. Adding insulation and framing to the floor takes a lot of raw materials.

A large air-conditioned room

Every basement space has to contend with a huge volume of cool air and unwanted humidity, which leads to mold. That’s why this space needs to be securely insulated.

Certainly the latest technology and building practices can help with many problems in basements. However, if the choice is between creating such a room or not, it is much more effective to give it up.