The clay takes on water and then dries out, resulting in significant expansions and retraction that put strain on walls of any kind. Because of the aforementioned soil movement issues, a loose pack ensures that the foundations and flooring of the basement will rise and fall dramatically throughout the seasons, especially in summer when rainfall and high heat result in rapid expansion and contraction.
To counter this, builders should start basement and foundation projects with a strong soil pack and even consider adding a lime mixture to ground trenches to offset the moisture levels. Building foundations need to be below the frost line to avoid freezing and cracking in pipes.
In cooler climates, the frost line is several feet below the surface, which is why many Northern homes have basements. In warmer places, like central Florida and Georgia, the frost line tends to be much closer to the surface. Also, many Southern states only have a shallow layer of soil over a much harder layer of limestone bedrock.
Since the value of the finished basement will shift based on the needs of the family living in the home, many people will choose not to invest, but instead, leave it for potential if the need arises from a family in that house down the line.
If you decide to take the plunge and make the investment in finishing the basement, there are ways to ensure that you get the most out of the money you invest. You may want to consider the durability of the material you choose versus how much use the floor will be getting. You also may want to weigh the choices against the expense of the material and installation and the return from the investment. Each homeowner has their own style and preference, but some common floor types for basements are carpeting, ceramic tiles, concrete, vinyl, laminate, and Marmoleum.
Depending on the material you choose, there are many options to adapt each material to your style preference. Basements have a long history in the US and around the world. There is no one universally accepted style, type, or use for basements, but there are many options to make the most of this unique space that not everyone gets the benefit of having. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Skip to content Post published: October 23, Post category: Basement Post comments: 0 Comments Post author: Melissa Nordquist We may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. November 8, Leave a Reply Cancel reply Comment. Enter your name or username to comment. Enter your email address to comment. Enter your website URL optional. While some basements were simply storage spaces, in other homes they were used as living quarters. In wealthy homes think Downton Abbey , the basement would often mirror the layout of the rest of the house - complete with bedrooms, corridors and bathrooms.
In stately homes, this was necessary to provide space for the house staff - including cooks, nannies and gardeners - so they could live in the house without encroaching on the main living area. Right through history and up to the current day, you will not find basements in every area of the United States.
Basements are most common where the weather is largely dry: floodplains spell disaster for underground living space! And while of course we do suffer from more than our fair share of cold weather here in Chicago, basements can incorporate ways to deal with freezing temperatures and rapid thaws. In the s, basements were more commonly seen in newly built homes. They were remodeled to a degree - often with concrete floors which was an improvement from the basements of the past.
But of course there was a long way to go and, fast forward to today, modern day basements really are indistinguishable from the rest of the home. Finished to a high standard and professionally waterproofed, the modern day basement is a versatile space for the entire family to enjoy! Get Matrix Basement Systems Inc. This concept also shines through in the differences between how you handle upkeep in the area.
Professionals will also maintain these areas differently. A JES expert will be able to make a distinction regarding the space under your home, then proceed accordingly depending on whether crawl space or basement upkeep will work best. Both crawl spaces and basements present very distinct potential for problems.
Depending on which one you have, you might run into different issues. These are just a few of the problems you may end up facing with a crawl space or a basement. A JES expert will be able to help you through these problems for crawl spaces and basements. One of the most prominent problems that under-home areas run into is moisture problems.
Although this is particularly prominent with dirt crawl spaces, which tend to leech moisture up from the soil, it can happen with any type of basement. The best way to avoid these moisture issues is to cut off the moisture at the source. For dirt crawl spaces, that may mean crawl space encapsulation.
Contact a JES expert for more information regarding how to return your crawl space or basement to a non-humid state. The area under your home needs to be just as stable as the rest of your home. You can run into construction problems with floor joists, concrete pouring and a variety of other important components of a crawl space or basement. A foundation inspection from JES can help you discover any problems that may need fixing now or in the future. This means you need to make sure anything you store under your home stays safe.
The most important part of that is maintaining a dry, cool area under your home. Basements and crawl spaces are very similar in some ways and very different in others. The best way to get the right support for your needs is to book a free inspection from JES today.
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