Hello everyone
We keep having disagreements about this topic.
How did you build your house? With or without a basement?
On one hand, I think: More space just means more room to store more stuff.
I have also considered compensating for the space by having a large double garage.
An attic would "also" be available then.
Hmm.....
I would appreciate your experiences.
I’ve also heard that not having a basement can be problematic because of moisture?
And cold from below?
We keep having disagreements about this topic.
How did you build your house? With or without a basement?
On one hand, I think: More space just means more room to store more stuff.
I have also considered compensating for the space by having a large double garage.
An attic would "also" be available then.
Hmm.....
I would appreciate your experiences.
I’ve also heard that not having a basement can be problematic because of moisture?
And cold from below?
B
Bauexperte2 Feb 2015 11:03Hello,
Basements are usually built when the site conditions justify the additional foundation costs in relation to the basement expenses (e.g., sloped terrain) or when the basement is intended for a use that adds more value than just storage (like a basement office). Building a basement is the most expensive way to invest money—literally. There is no such thing as a basement for $30,000 (or similar) as often mentioned here; such a cost might cover just the bare walls and, if lucky, the light wells, but that’s it. In reality, costs often rise to $40,000 (or more).
Everyone must decide for themselves whether a basement is necessary or not. It’s important to free oneself from the idea of what previous generations considered a “proper house.” What’s usually forgotten is that basements were once essential to store garden produce over the winter. This started with early potatoes and ended with leeks in November—these food items were a means of livelihood and needed to be stored somewhere. Looking at old basements objectively, they were simply storage spaces, often built directly into clay soil. This is also the basis for the saying that "without a basement, feet feel cold." In fact, it was “with” a basement that feet felt cold because the floor slabs were much thinner back then, and the basement below was usually unheated and often damp.
We maintain a very good relationship with our clients—even years after handover. Therefore, I know well how many “urgently needed basements” are actually used. In most cases, they end up as mere storage areas for things the homeowners cannot part with. The hearts of hoarders beat faster naturally. The “party basement” might be used in the first year; by the second year, it’s no longer used, as the partner responsible for cleaning refuses to keep chasing guests. Then suddenly, they remember they have a garden.
It’s different if offices are needed in the basement and are regularly used, or when a sloped site makes integrating a lower floor into the living space economically sensible. In most cases, houses on slopes grow less upwards and the lower ground floor effectively serves as the ground floor.
Whatever you decide, remember: it will be your house, and you need to decide how to use your budget economically—not your parents or friends with their “good” objections!
Regards, Bauexperte
Nina87 schrieb:I’m not building for myself but for others, so I can only share my experience based on construction contracts from recent years.
How did you build? With or without a basement?
Hmm.....
Please share your experiences.
Basements are usually built when the site conditions justify the additional foundation costs in relation to the basement expenses (e.g., sloped terrain) or when the basement is intended for a use that adds more value than just storage (like a basement office). Building a basement is the most expensive way to invest money—literally. There is no such thing as a basement for $30,000 (or similar) as often mentioned here; such a cost might cover just the bare walls and, if lucky, the light wells, but that’s it. In reality, costs often rise to $40,000 (or more).
Everyone must decide for themselves whether a basement is necessary or not. It’s important to free oneself from the idea of what previous generations considered a “proper house.” What’s usually forgotten is that basements were once essential to store garden produce over the winter. This started with early potatoes and ended with leeks in November—these food items were a means of livelihood and needed to be stored somewhere. Looking at old basements objectively, they were simply storage spaces, often built directly into clay soil. This is also the basis for the saying that "without a basement, feet feel cold." In fact, it was “with” a basement that feet felt cold because the floor slabs were much thinner back then, and the basement below was usually unheated and often damp.
We maintain a very good relationship with our clients—even years after handover. Therefore, I know well how many “urgently needed basements” are actually used. In most cases, they end up as mere storage areas for things the homeowners cannot part with. The hearts of hoarders beat faster naturally. The “party basement” might be used in the first year; by the second year, it’s no longer used, as the partner responsible for cleaning refuses to keep chasing guests. Then suddenly, they remember they have a garden.
It’s different if offices are needed in the basement and are regularly used, or when a sloped site makes integrating a lower floor into the living space economically sensible. In most cases, houses on slopes grow less upwards and the lower ground floor effectively serves as the ground floor.
Whatever you decide, remember: it will be your house, and you need to decide how to use your budget economically—not your parents or friends with their “good” objections!
Nina87 schrieb:Then the slab was wrongly constructed; in the past, it was often placed directly on the soil, but today, with soil reports and proper attention, this is no longer an issue.
I’ve heard that building without a basement is problematic because of moisture? And it’s cold from below?
Regards, Bauexperte
We have a purely functional basement. According to the general opinion here, that is considered a "waste of money." However, I would never want to do without our basement. Each square meter costs 650€ (about $700), and even if you were a millionaire, you simply can't buy more because the plots are limited to 250 square meters (about 2,690 square feet). The development plan only allows approximately 70 square meters (about 750 square feet) of ground floor area, but permits an upper floor and a finished attic. Altogether, this results in about 140 square meters (about 1,500 square feet) of living space.
Now, explaining where I am supposed to do laundry, install the heating system, store food, or keep winter and summer clothing would only be possible with a significant reduction in living quality. To me, the extra 30,000€ (about $33,000) is well worth it.
Additionally, garden sheds may be a maximum of 4 square meters (about 43 square feet) and only one single garage is allowed (where our car is parked).
The question of basement versus no basement is very individual, so there is no blanket answer — even if, for example, in Northwest Germany almost everyone builds without one, and in Bavaria almost everyone builds with one...
Now, explaining where I am supposed to do laundry, install the heating system, store food, or keep winter and summer clothing would only be possible with a significant reduction in living quality. To me, the extra 30,000€ (about $33,000) is well worth it.
Additionally, garden sheds may be a maximum of 4 square meters (about 43 square feet) and only one single garage is allowed (where our car is parked).
The question of basement versus no basement is very individual, so there is no blanket answer — even if, for example, in Northwest Germany almost everyone builds without one, and in Bavaria almost everyone builds with one...
Bautraum20152 Feb 2015 12:56We had it calculated several times, and a correspondingly larger house with a utility room, laundry room, and additional storage space above the garage would have cost us the same. What we would still have missed, however, was an optional room in case we have a third child, as well as cool rooms for wine and for storing our homegrown vegetables and fruit. Therefore, we opted for a basement that is half heated living space and half utility cellar.
But that’s the good thing—everyone has different requirements for their home; otherwise, we would all end up with identical boxes.
But that’s the good thing—everyone has different requirements for their home; otherwise, we would all end up with identical boxes.
W
willWohnen2 Feb 2015 13:00I can only agree with Wastl. There is no single answer that is always right for everyone.
For example, in our case, a waterproof concrete basement (commonly called a "white tank") would have been required, which involves using a special, more watertight concrete. This is even more costly. In addition, I know of newly built houses in the area where the white tank basement was damp from the start. Such a white tank basement is more difficult to construct. The contractor who built these now no longer offers white tanks at all.
In the 1970s multi-family house where we currently live, the basement had to be excavated and waterproofed from the outside after the fact. From these experiences, the basement is something like the Achilles’ heel of a house for me. Even if it is well constructed, will it still be watertight after several decades?
On the other hand, a basement is ideal for storing even small quantities of potatoes or apples; you can keep your patio plants or pond fish frost-free during winter, and you don’t have to allocate space for the utility room on the ground-floor layout.
For example, in our case, a waterproof concrete basement (commonly called a "white tank") would have been required, which involves using a special, more watertight concrete. This is even more costly. In addition, I know of newly built houses in the area where the white tank basement was damp from the start. Such a white tank basement is more difficult to construct. The contractor who built these now no longer offers white tanks at all.
In the 1970s multi-family house where we currently live, the basement had to be excavated and waterproofed from the outside after the fact. From these experiences, the basement is something like the Achilles’ heel of a house for me. Even if it is well constructed, will it still be watertight after several decades?
On the other hand, a basement is ideal for storing even small quantities of potatoes or apples; you can keep your patio plants or pond fish frost-free during winter, and you don’t have to allocate space for the utility room on the ground-floor layout.
Wastl schrieb:
According to the unanimous opinion here, it's a "waste of money" Why unanimous? There are reasonable arguments both for and against having a basement.
Wastl schrieb:
So now I’d like an explanation of where I can do laundry, place the heating system, store food, keep winter/summer clothes, etc. Gladly... in the utility room, garage, under the stairs, in the attic, and so on...
Less living space doesn't mean insufficient living space!
If the plot and the building permit/planning permission do not allow enough living space to be created with a basement, then it’s obviously a question of whether or not to build one.
Our house is large enough without a basement to provide sufficient living space as well as an alternative to a basement. If that wasn’t possible, meaning no additional floors were feasible either, we would of course build with a basement. If I have the option to do without a basement, I would choose to do so.
Wastl schrieb:
The question of basement or no basement is so individual that there is no one-size-fits-all answer I guess now we all agree on that.
Bautraum20152 Feb 2015 13:04All houses built in the 1970s are not watertight. Today, when building a new basement, if constructed properly, you get a watertight basement. Because of groundwater, we are also building a waterproof concrete shell (white tank)... Additional costs 7,000€ (approximately 7,700 USD). Everyone here builds with a waterproof concrete shell, and none of my neighbors have damp basements.
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