Basements

[bubba28]

Why are houses in Britain not built with a basement as in America?

[alan-r]

if you pay for one you got it

[asza001]

'cause there not big enough.

[R1Geezer]

quite a lot of houses are built with basements. Conversely I'd imagine that there are a lot in the US that don't have basements. So there's not really a mystery!

[flyciderman]

I think the answer is that in America & Canada the houses are timber framed lighter construction, less need for foundations Also they are not crammed in as in England and make better use of the larger plots.

[MWB]

Same as NZ, Bubba.

I would LOVE a basement. And an attic for that matter.

[buildersmate]

The answer is partly fashion and partly cost-related.
To me, being a small island with relatively little land, the case for having basements is stronger here than in the countries with lots of land. Also there are many European countries where basements are standard (Denmark, for example).
In the UK, the majority of new houses are built by large-scale developers who are merely interested in converting land into a profit - not thinking about what customer prefer.
And customer are equally at fault - many won't pay for a basement - they are probably an average of 3x more expensive per square metre of space created to construct than other forms of space.

[bubba28]

Thats great, it just something I'v always wondered about and would love to have one.

[Nosha123]

we've just built one!!!!

[tpreece01]

I've got a basement, and I had at my last house too.

I'm moving in a week and have discovered a hidden basement at the new house. The door won't open easily so it'll be a mystery as to whats down there unitl I move in and can force it!

A lot of old Victorian terraced houses have basements, they were originally used for storing the coal. Many can be damp, sometimes flooded in heavy rain as they have openings to the outside. Even when covered up, there has to be a gap to let the basement breathe so water can still get in.

Incidentally, my current basement extends further than the front of the house, out towards the pavement and road..

[Oneeyedvic]

We have a basement - converted into a library with a futon for visitors to stay over.

[MWB]

Tpreece01.

What did you use the basement for in the house your moving out of?