In general, there are three main types of basement constructions: poured concrete, precast panels, and masonry walls. The three can be used interchangeably since they are made of similar materials, but a lot relies on the kind of construction in question.
Traditionally, semi-basements were designed in larger houses where staff was housed. A semi-basement usually contained kitchens and domestic offices. The advantage over a basement is that a semi-basement can let outside light in as it can have windows, albeit ones that are often too high to enjoy a view.
Crawlspace. A crawlspace is by far the smallest type of basement. Most serve only to allow access to different systems, like plumbing, HVAC or sewage piping, while others allow air to flow beneath a home.
If it is built on a slab there is no crawl space or basement to budget for.
Poured concrete block bases and slab foundations will last for a lifetime, 80 to 100 years or more, given they have been constructed with precision. The termite proofing of the base, 12 years, provided the chemical barriers remain intact.
Slab: What is it? The most simple of the three types of foundations, a slab is simply a concrete foundation around one foot in depth below the house reinforced with steel bars.
A Michigan basement is a crawl space that has been converted into a basement. The crawl space footings are covered, which creates the shelf or ledge. The center of the crawl space inside this ledge is then excavated, creating a basement portion. This new basement is then filled in with concrete, either poured or block.
You might be thinking: aren't all basements, by definition, walk-up basements? That's largely true, but the term denotes a crucial difference. Most simply, what distinguishes a walk-up basement from a standard basement is that the stairs lead to an exterior door or hatch rather than somewhere inside the house.
Poured Concrete Wall
This is the most popular type of basement construction material. It's the only type that Reinbrecht builds due to its quality and durability. It can be formed up and poured at the building site, so it can accommodate different sizes and configurations depending on the house's footprint.
New homeowners have their financial limits when it comes to adding any “nice-to-haves”. This may be a reason why basements are often left unfinished. Yet homebuyers have many reasons to extend that extra money to finish this often-neglected part of the home.
Construction Costs
The construction cost will be lower if a homeowner decides to keep a basement unfinished. To construct a finished basement, contracts will need to ensure that the basement walls are insulated and meet the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
Basements built in California are often below sea level, so extra measures must be taken to prevent flooding and other water-related issues. Most contractors working in California try to reduce expenses wherever possible, and excluding basements from homes fulfills this goal.
Basement Foundation. This is a type of foundation built at least eight feet below the ground to accommodate an underground living space. The structural foundation walls are placed on concrete footings that run the perimeter of the basement.
Essentially, the. "walk-out basement" entrance becomes the front door. of the home, but you'd never know you're in a. basement!
Walk-in basements have better ventilation than closed basements. This is because there are more opportunities for air to circulate in a walk-in basement. The downslope wall of the walkout basement usually contains windows as well as a door. These can be opened freely to let fresh air in and ventilate the area.
If you already have a basement and want to turn it into a walkout unit, you can do so too. It is important to consult a professional at the very design stage and turning the basement into a walkout requires changes on the foundation level and a wrong design can threaten the whole structure of your house.
Instead of supporting the house and building a new foundation or underpinning, the existing footings to the new depth, retaining walls were built usually about three feet inside the basement to support the earth under the original foundation.
A basement is a story of a building partly below curb level but with at least one-half of its height above the curb level. A cellar is an enclosed space having more than one-half of its height below curb level. Usually, if a cellar has any windows, the windows are too small for an adult to fit through.
Where basements contain one or more sleeping rooms, an emergency escape and rescue opening shall be required in each sleeping room. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall open directly into a public way, or to a yard or court that opens to a public way.
If you have been talking with a home improvement professional and he or she mentions Drylock or Drylok, what he is talking about is a basement waterproofing sealer that is put on the concrete. This product is designed to prevent water from seeping through the foundation and walls in the basement.
The major downsides are that they don't offer room for a basement or crawl space, and they can easily sustain damage due to frost.
Hazards commonly found in basements include toxic chemicals, pests, mold, indoor air quality issues (such as dangerous gases) and fire hazards that can affect all rooms of the home. Visit the kitchen to learn more about chemicals and pests; visit the bathroom to learn more about mold.