The Benefits of a Full or Partial Basement in a Home

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While not all homes have full basements, most often the difference in cost is well worth the difference in benefits. Certainly, there are some soil and ground types that are not conducive to a full basement. In areas of extremely high-water tables or on ground that has ledge rock, regular basements may not be a viable option. But the advantages to having a full basement versus a slab foundation are plentiful.

Sometimes in circumstances of high-water tables or rock ledge, people building a home will choose to have a partial basement. Other potential options in such circumstances include using a home design structure that does not require full basements. Split-Level homes and Raised Ranches are two examples of alternatives to full basements.

Split-Level homes usually have a lower level that is built as a walk out basement. This is a great style for people with a hilled lot. By contrast, Raised Ranches have half of the basement level above ground. Both styles offer the benefits of a basement without needing to have a full basement if there are high water tables or ledge. Proper drainage around a basement during construction can protect against pooling if water table is a concern. These home styles afford a higher value for the basement space than traditional basements. This is because they can become partially above ground living space with regular windows instead of a basement with window wells once they are finished off.

Reasons to Put in a Full Basement in a New Home

There are many important reasons to build a home with a full basement. In general terms, most homes in America are constructed with a full basement. One of the biggest reasons is space. For people who have homes, finding extra living and storage space can be a difficult task. These are part of why basements are so often considered an invaluable part of a home. Basements often become an integral part of having extra storage space and potential living space once they are finished into rooms with heat, sheetrock walls, flooring and lights.

Basements are also a great place for the mechanicals of a home. In fact, most basements house the: furnace, hot water heater, main plumbing lines and the circuit breaker panel. Having these in the basement of a home helps to keep them away from the primary part of the home and its occupants for safety.

One of the primary concerns for new home construction is defining the potential use of the basement in advance during the planning stage. This is when a basement construction hanover pa company comes into play to help new home buyers who need to decide if creating a walk-out basement is the best choice or what type of basement they want. Walk-out basements can increase the value of a home. This is because a walk-out basement that is finished as living space is given a higher per square foot value than traditional basements.

However, whether a basement area is finished off or not, it will still offer more value to a home than a slab foundation. Most homebuyers find that having a basement is a vital component in a home. In fact, a lack of a basement can reduce the number of potential buyers of a home significantly. In the long range, the lack of a basement can make the sale of a home down the road more difficult.

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