Adding a basement to an existing house?

Posted by JLagg on January 6, 2007, 9:08 pm

Just curious as to the probability of adding a basement to an existing
house. It was built in 55 and is a ranch style single story 3 bedroom
1000 sq. It has a 3 ft crawl space all the way around. I have a drywell
and well also, no city pumbing at all. Any thoughts on this? Thanks

Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on January 6, 2007, 9:20 pm

> Just curious as to the probability of adding a basement to an existing
> house. It was built in 55 and is a ranch style single story 3 bedroom
> 1000 sq. It has a 3 ft crawl space all the way around. I have a drywell
> and well also, no city pumbing at all. Any thoughts on this? Thanks

Expensive. Two ways to do it. One it to move the house off the foundation,
dig the basement, pour the walls, etc, then move the house back. Another is
to cut a hole in the floor and start digging by hand and bucket the dirt
away.

I just has to be cheaper to move to another house, but maybe you have
special circumstances. I can see it costing 100k to do this, but it also
spends on the type of soil, ground water table, etc. It may be a better
investment, not cheaper, just to build a new house and tear down the old.

Posted by BobK207 on January 6, 2007, 9:23 pm

JLagg wrote:

Yes it is totally doable.

When I was a kid in the early 60's a neighbor nearly finished one but
he died of a heart attack just before completely the dig.

The guy who bought the house from his widow got a nearly completed
excavation, he finsihed the project & had one of the very few basements
in the area

SoCal is not noted for full size basements even in the 60s......maybe
the random ultilty vault but once slab constr took hold as rare as
bsements were they became extinct.

My dad & I toyed with the idea (60's bomb shelter) but never executed

A buddy's uncle dug a bsaement; buckets & a pickup truck....... took
him a LONG time

If you're serious you've got think it through.....you can easily
undermine your foundation. You've got to support the dirt supporting
the foundation or dig far enough away.

I've thought about it for my house but I've got post & pier
construction; the project is daunting.

cheers
Bob

Posted by JLagg on January 6, 2007, 9:37 pm

BobK207 wrote:

> JLagg wrote:

> > Just curious as to the probability of adding a basement to an existing
> > house. It was built in 55 and is a ranch style single story 3 bedroom
> > 1000 sq. It has a 3 ft crawl space all the way around. I have a drywell
> > and well also, no city pumbing at all. Any thoughts on this? Thanks

> Yes it is totally doable.
> When I was a kid in the early 60's a neighbor nearly finished one but
> he died of a heart attack just before completely the dig.
> The guy who bought the house from his widow got a nearly completed
> excavation, he finsihed the project & had one of the very few basements
> in the area
> SoCal is not noted for full size basements even in the 60s......maybe
> the random ultilty vault but once slab constr took hold as rare as
> bsements were they became extinct.
> My dad & I toyed with the idea (60's bomb shelter) but never executed
> A buddy's uncle dug a bsaement; buckets & a pickup truck....... took
> him a LONG time
> If you're serious you've got think it through.....you can easily
> undermine your foundation. You've got to support the dirt supporting
> the foundation or dig far enough away.
> I've thought about it for my house but I've got post & pier
> construction; the project is daunting.
> cheers
> Bob

Thanks for the input folks. I live in Michigan around Battle creek.
There are a few places around me that have basements even walkout
basements. A neighbor actually got under his house and pulled out the
dirt with a 5 gal bucket! took a while for that one. Also would it be
better to use the cinder blocks or actually using forms or is there
really a choice.

Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on January 6, 2007, 9:56 pm

> Also would it be
> better to use the cinder blocks or actually using forms or is there
> really a choice.

One method is to use insulating concrete forms. You can DIY and you end up
with a well insulated basement, a must in your area. Check out
www.standardicf.com or www.integraspec.com

You can also put a portion in the ground and a portion above grade and have
what is known as a "raised ranch" and have better natural light in the lower
level.

Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 > last >>

Similar Threads	Posted
Adding hardwood to existing stairs	December 28, 2005, 12:37 am
Adding hardwood foor to existing	August 27, 2008, 11:36 pm
Adding an outlet in the middle of an existing circuit?	January 9, 2006, 10:35 am
Adding a light fixture from an existing switch ?	May 8, 2007, 11:08 pm
Adding a new window in an existing aluminum-sided wall	June 12, 2008, 1:57 am
Adding a new furnace in conjuction with existing electric - how to separate the air supplies?	October 24, 2005, 9:29 am
adding a new switch/light on to an existing 3-way switch	October 9, 2006, 9:05 am
Adding a bathroom in the basement	February 7, 2006, 2:45 am
Adding a basement sink	February 22, 2006, 1:08 am
adding outlet in basement	June 27, 2006, 12:03 pm