Why no basements in new southern homes?

[A4Disney]

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..

 

[tiggerlover]

I thought it had to do with the sea level, but I am not sure.

 

[geetey]

We didn't have a basement in our new home in TN. The builder said it was because the houses were being built on a layer of rock that would have involved a lot of blasting (costing lots of $$$$).

Those people that did have basements? I wouldn't have wanted one of them because they weren't poured concrete but cinder blocks and leaked like crazy!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

The water table is probably too high--they'd have a swimming pool instead.

 

[OhMari]

Did anyone see Extreme Makeover Edition, this past Sunday. They gave a new home to a family that lost their's in a Propane Heater Blast. They filled in the basement. These people were from Kansas and they had a lot of Wizard of Oz references. I thought how stupid people, you live in tornado alley, where are they suppose to go Dorothy!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We don't have basements here either...you're right, the water table is too high. My dh is from NE, and when I went to visit his family for the first time, I thought basements were weird, don't know why, just never knew anybody that had one I guess!

 

[HeatherPage]

I don't think it's unheard of here. I've seen houses advertised here with full basements (we're about 2 hours from the coast).

 

[Ziva]

No basements in Florida because of the water table.

 

[ilovepcot]

I've lived in all regions of NC with the exception of the coast, and many of the homes had basements. Yes, it's the *water table* you must concern yourself with.

 

[Aidensmom]

Like others have said, here it is the water table. We already have a risk of our homes being devoured by sinkholes, we don't want to make it any easier.

 

[Planogirl]

We live in the southern end of tornado alley and we don't have basements.

Over the holidays, we visited a home that was built into a hill so a portion of the house had a basement of sorts under it. The group I was with was fascinated because this is almost unheard of in north Texas.

 

[RAD]

We were looking at homes in the Austin TX area and also curious why no basements. Told that right under the top soil is nothing but rock and it's just too expensive to do a basement.

 

[clarabelle]

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.

 

[GeorgeG]

We just moved to Florida three months ago and our new home and every other I see being built are on a slab, no basements. I believe it's because of a high water table even though we're in what you might call "hill" country.

Prior to moving, we had yard sale that involved moving a ton of stuff out from our basement and a huge third-floor attic. That convinced me that basements and attics are evil. Well, maybe not evil, but good mostly for keeping stuff you really don't need. An exception, of course, would be if you live in an area prone to tornados.

Our community has a lot of tunnels for golf carts to go under roads (common mode of transportation here) and I haven't seen any water problems, even on a few just being dug, so I don't know how high our water table is. Either way, I'm glad not to have a basement.

 

[Hercules10]

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.

 

[SC Minnie]

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.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

LIke Hercules said, the clay soil here almost prevents it. In some of Northern Alabama, they have hills where you will find them in plenty. However, in Central Alabama, it is so cost prohibitive to build them because of the soil. The flatter areas just teem with that dratted clay.
Kim

 

[SGB13]

Like the other posters said. You'll only find them mid state and to the west. And your best luck is with a lot on a hill so that you can walk out at the back of the basement. My parents are in the RTP area and that is how their house is. They still have problems with water coming thru the wall though. I'm in the eastern part of the state and in some area water will stand on the ground with almost no rain. So no way for a basement.

 

[Tanuki]

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.

 

[RadioNate]

We were looking at homes in the Austin TX area and also curious why no basements. Told that right under the top soil is nothing but rock and it's just too expensive to do a basement.

In the Austin/San Antonio area in addition to having to blast through the limestone there are regulations in reguards to the aquifer.

I only have about 6 inched of soil. We were leveliing our flower bed and hitting rock.

A lot of pool companies won't do inground pools after construction if they have to blast since it can damage your foundation and the foundations of neighboring houses.

I know when our neighbor did their pool we had to give our ok for the blasting and agree not to hold the pool company liable if our foundation was damaged.