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.
Häuslebau3r25 Aug 2015 07:32Good morning everyone,
We have been facing the same situation for quite some time and have asked ourselves this question many times. Our plot is currently 760 m² (8,180 sq ft), and despite the costs, we are leaning towards having a basement, whether with a waterproof concrete slab (often called "white tank") or a conventional one.
What I have noticed in recent weeks while walking through residential areas is that you can immediately tell which houses have basements and which do not, based on garden sheds or extensions. Of course, there might be exceptions, but that is my impression.
I think the house design also plays a role. If, like us, you plan a house with 2 full stories without a real attic, then the attic as storage space is no longer an option. Furthermore, the question arises whether a hobby or guest room could possibly be placed in the basement. Another point is the technical room. Even though these rooms are often quite small nowadays (due to modern technology), you still need to allocate space for them on the ground floor.
In my opinion, these are all criteria that one has to assess individually (as well as the costs of a basement), depending on size and finish. I am currently estimating around 60,000 euros for the basement including the foundation slab. However, I do not have exact figures yet.
Best regards
We have been facing the same situation for quite some time and have asked ourselves this question many times. Our plot is currently 760 m² (8,180 sq ft), and despite the costs, we are leaning towards having a basement, whether with a waterproof concrete slab (often called "white tank") or a conventional one.
What I have noticed in recent weeks while walking through residential areas is that you can immediately tell which houses have basements and which do not, based on garden sheds or extensions. Of course, there might be exceptions, but that is my impression.
I think the house design also plays a role. If, like us, you plan a house with 2 full stories without a real attic, then the attic as storage space is no longer an option. Furthermore, the question arises whether a hobby or guest room could possibly be placed in the basement. Another point is the technical room. Even though these rooms are often quite small nowadays (due to modern technology), you still need to allocate space for them on the ground floor.
In my opinion, these are all criteria that one has to assess individually (as well as the costs of a basement), depending on size and finish. I am currently estimating around 60,000 euros for the basement including the foundation slab. However, I do not have exact figures yet.
Best regards
Häuslebau3r25 Aug 2015 07:38Often, the cost per square meter on the ground floor is compared to the cost for a significantly larger basement area. Are these statements accurate?
Hello,
we are building in an open-pit mining area where many houses are built without basements, as water issues are expected here. Our basement would have cost around €60,000, which would not have been a major financial problem for us, but the basement area would have been about 130 sqm (1400 sq ft). What should I do with that space? Our daughter is almost 17 and will likely move out in a few years... so we decided against having a basement.
However, we do have a basement in our current house, so the move next year will be interesting. In the new house, we have planned multiple rooms: an attic space under the pitched roof, and a storage room on the upper floor of about 10 sqm (110 sq ft). There is also a utility room of about 18 sqm (190 sq ft) and an additional room that could be fitted with built-in wardrobes. Overall, we planned generously with 230 sqm (2475 sq ft) of living space for 4 people.
we are building in an open-pit mining area where many houses are built without basements, as water issues are expected here. Our basement would have cost around €60,000, which would not have been a major financial problem for us, but the basement area would have been about 130 sqm (1400 sq ft). What should I do with that space? Our daughter is almost 17 and will likely move out in a few years... so we decided against having a basement.
However, we do have a basement in our current house, so the move next year will be interesting. In the new house, we have planned multiple rooms: an attic space under the pitched roof, and a storage room on the upper floor of about 10 sqm (110 sq ft). There is also a utility room of about 18 sqm (190 sq ft) and an additional room that could be fitted with built-in wardrobes. Overall, we planned generously with 230 sqm (2475 sq ft) of living space for 4 people.
For us, having a basement would have been a waste of money. Since we need the space on the upper floor, we didn’t have to enlarge the ground floor to accommodate “basement rooms.” We also didn’t want a huge living room of 50m2 (540 sq ft). Therefore, it wasn’t a problem for us to put the utility room, office, and technical room on the ground floor (we previously had these in the basement). Additionally, we converted the attic and created two nice rooms accessible by a staircase. One is used for storage, and the other as a playroom. The conversion cost us 15,000 euros. The slightly larger garden shed cost 2,500 euros. However, the shed only houses items we wouldn’t have stored in the basement anyway (garden tools and the children’s equipment).
Bautraum201525 Aug 2015 09:48This shows how individual the need for a basement can be. We have a very high groundwater level and still decided on a basement with a waterproof concrete shell (known as a “white tank”). We cannot increase the footprint and need the basement for an office, music room, as well as technical and utility rooms. We would not be able to compensate for these 80 m² (860 sq ft) above ground!! If we are lucky, the basement will be installed this autumn, as the groundwater has dropped by over 2 meters (6.5 feet) due to this hot summer.
Additionally, in our region, a house without a basement is not considered a proper house. Nobody here would build or even buy a house without a basement.
Additionally, in our region, a house without a basement is not considered a proper house. Nobody here would build or even buy a house without a basement.
I’m not building a house based on its resale value but so that I like it. After all, I’ll be living there for at least 30 years, or ideally for the rest of my life.
But I also don’t buy a white/xy-colored car just because it might sell better in the future and then regret it every day.
I know many people think differently.
Moppetüte *12.12.12
But I also don’t buy a white/xy-colored car just because it might sell better in the future and then regret it every day.
I know many people think differently.
Moppetüte *12.12.12
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