Why no basements in new southern homes?

[malibuconlee]

Here in Texas it's the expansive clay soil. It's tough enough to keep foundations from cracking, but a basement wouldn't last through one Texas summer without splitting like Nick and Jessica.

Too funny!!

I remember telling my mom about "watering my foundation" on our house in Carrollton. She thought I was crazy being from Iowa where everyone has basements.

 

[mickeyboat]

I'm looking into houses in North Carolina specifically and I was just wondering why all of the newer homes are built without basements.I understand it near water areas but these are all inland locations..

Here's my take. In areas of the country where it gets very cold, frost walls need to be built deeper into the ground to prevent frost from cracking the foundation. In warmer climates, there is no need for deep frost walls, so why spend the money to pour concrete for a basement? Spend the money on rooms above the ground, where the return on the investment is higher.

Denae

 

[sgtdisney]

There is also the possibility that the basement may let Radon gas (which causes lung cancer) into the home. Many buyers insist on a Radon test before purchasing. The best way to be sure of no Radon problems is to not have a basement. Builders may be shying away from basements in areas where the soil is contaminated.

Unfortunately Radon can be found in homes built on a slab as well as those having a basement or walk-out basement (built into a hill) or a crawlspace. Not having a basement will not preclude the possibility of the home having Radon.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Radon gas can enter a home that is on a slab. For about 150 you can get a fan and 50 in pipes put under the concrete slab and radon is gone.

 

[keepinitreal]

If you are looking inland (middle of the state and west) probably $$$ is the reason for no basement. Some of the newer homes here have them and some don't. It depends on what you are willing to pay for. Most of the homes in 'modest' track built subdivisions don't have basements but some do.

$$$ is the answer west of Raleigh in NC. Soil is hard and it takes time and equipment to build basements. I wouldn't have a home without a basement and we passed on several nice homes in our area when we purchased 4 years ago because they didn't have basements. I gotta have room to store my toys.

 

[GalDisney]

Southern California homes dont have basements.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We live in GA -but have a "daylight basement" or "walkout basement"
The house is built into the side of a hill -so the basement is built into the hillside. The front side faces into the dirt and the back side opens into the backyard with a patio.

My sister lives in the Atlanta area, and she has a full basement as well. It's much more common up there than it is down here along the coast I think. There are more hills up in north Ga., here it's pretty flat.

 

[dejr_8]

We moved to NC 2 years ago from MA and were wondering the same thing. We heard it had to do with the water table but our realtor had another answer.
People from the north wanted basements as a place to keep all of their "stuff".
When we thought of it most of the things that we kept in our basement they were things needed for the winter or changing seasons. The seasons just don't change that much in NC. You can leave your "stuff" out all year round. We built a house without a basement but we could have had one too.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

No basement for us near Charlotte NC, either. Moved here from PA a few months ago. Had a basement in PA. Wish we had one here, but they are few and far between. Traded the basement for almost 70 degree temps all this week here in NC. Nice!

 

[SC Minnie]

No basement for us near Charlotte NC, either. Moved here from PA a few months ago. Had a basement in PA. Wish we had one here, but they are few and far between. Traded the basement for almost 70 degree temps all this week here in NC. Nice!

Today is supposed to hit 70 Can't believe I am wearing short sleeves in January. Certainly not the norm.

 

[MomofKatie]

In NC, and much of the South, two things- clay soil and $$$. If you are willing to pay LOTS more, you can have a basement- but they are much more expensive to put in due to the soil here. Most of the homes here near Charlotte that DO have basements are either older homes or big bucks homes built on hillsides- they tend to have 'daylight' basements, if any.

 

[skiwee1]

I never heard of not having a basement. I think most Marylanders have them. We do and only live a few hundred feet from the water. I love having a finished basement. We have a 2 store colonial and a basement so that gives us much more room.