ᐅ House with or without a basement

Created on: 17 Aug 2015 10:11
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MrDuncan
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MrDuncan
17 Aug 2015 10:11
We are currently considering whether to build our house with or without a basement. Normally, we would prefer a basement, but the groundwater level is very high in our area, which is why our neighbors were also unable to have one. What alternatives would you suggest, and how do you estimate the costs? I have looked into a waterproof basement shell, but the construction company advised against it, saying it would be too expensive and not cost-effective.
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Müllerin
17 Aug 2015 10:17
I don’t see where you plan to build, but we also initially wanted a basement. The consultant advised against it because we don’t have any hobbies that would require the extra space, and we are building in an area with affordable land prices. So, we decided to make the house about 20–30 square meters (215–323 square feet) larger than originally planned and invest the money saved into higher-quality interior finishes (or landscaping, we’ll see).

That was our alternative suggestion. I can’t say anything about the costs of a basement with a bathtub and possibly even pumps around it.

Moppetüte *12.12.12
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MrDuncan
17 Aug 2015 10:20
We want to build in 93142 Pirkensee / Oberpfalz.
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Bauexperte
17 Aug 2015 10:32
Hello,

I deleted my text. I confused two TEs; sorry.

Regards, Bauexperte
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Müllerin
17 Aug 2015 10:32
Well, I would first check how many square meters (square feet) my plot has, how big I want the garden to be, and then determine how large the house can be. Is the space enough without a basement?
If not, I’d rather spend a significant amount of money on the basement, accepting the risk that it could become damp or flood, or I’d reduce the garden size to have enough room inside the house.

What do you plan to put in the basement? Is it possible to accommodate those things elsewhere in the house?

Moppetüte *12.12.12
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Manu1976
17 Aug 2015 11:01
It depends on the house and the land itself. If you have a small plot, you will probably need a basement for storage. If the plot is large enough for a garage and you have the option to create a proper attic (not just a crawl space), then you may not really need a basement. We have three children and no garage, yet we decided against having a basement. However, our house has many storage options, including a converted loft.