What is a California basement?

A California basement is a smaller sized basement normally with tiny rooms to fit boilers, water heaters, ductwork, and electrical panels.

Why are basements rare in California?

“It's easier to build without a basement if you were doing assembly-line construction.” In addition, fear of earthquakes was often cited as a reason for the dearth of basements in the Golden State.

Are basements a thing in California?

Many houses in California are built into hillsides and have the opportunity for at least a half-basement. Even if a house has a basement like this, there often are no stairs connecting this space to the main part of the house.

What are the different types of basements?

What is a Yankee basement?

They call it a “Yankee basement” or, well, sometimes a “root cellar,” where basically you take the interior perimeter of the foundation wall, move in about 2½, 3 feet and then dig down there. So you leave this sort of berm of soil to support the foundation that's under the footing.

Why are There No Basements in the Southern US?

What is a house with a basement called?

A bungalow is usually a small one floor house that can be expanded by adding a bedroom down in the basement or up in the attic, so it is more the name of a one story house with room to grow.

Why are there no brick houses in California?

There are several reasons why brick isn't predominant: The climate: California's weather is pretty temperate-we don't get subzero temperatures like back East or in the Midwest, so we don't need the extra insulation. On top of that, in parts of California, it can get very hot, and brick holds heat in.

Why don't they have basements in Texas?

According to Texas Monthly: In some parts of the state, the water table is too near the surface of the ground, making leaking and flooding an issue. Sometimes the bedrock is too close to the surface, making digging more difficult and costly. “Expansive” soils can make a basement unworkable.

Why does Florida not have basements?

Damp soil is the major culprit in most cases of missing basements in the southern states. Most parts of Florida, Louisiana, and eastern Texas have swaths of wetland or swamps or significant coastlines. So, there's just too much water underground to make basement construction feasible.

Are basements safe in an earthquake?

While a powerful earthquake could be catastrophic, it's important to note that it's falling debris, and not the ground's movement, that causes most injuries and deaths. Basements are safe during an earthquake, but you shouldn't try to get there once the shaking starts.

Do California homes have attics?

Attics in California

Attics are much more common in California homes since their existence isn't based on the same architectural principles as basements and work well in warmer climates.

Why don t Arizona homes have basements?

Because the ground doesn't freeze in Phoenix, you only have to dig 18 inches below the surface to pour concrete footing for a house. If you want a basement, you'll have to go out of your way to dig deeper. That's complicated by a common soil phenomena in the state called caliche.

Why do Southern states not have basements?

Places with a lot of wetlands or swampland, like Louisiana and Florida, have too much water in the soil to build below ground. The water table, an underground boundary between the soil surface and groundwater, is usually less than a meter underground in these Southern states.

Why is a basement called a basement?

basement (n.)

"lowest story of a building, wholly or partly underground," 1730, from base (v.) + -ment.

Why are Florida homes built on slabs?

Most Floridian homes are built on slabs due to the Floridian Aquifer System. This system is underground and can be as little as 6 inches from the ground surface. Meaning you could dig in your yard to place a fence or a mailbox and delve straight into water.

Are there basements in Hawaii?

In general, homes in Hawaii do have basements as long as they meet the necessary safety and zoning requirements. Once the requirements are met, a basement can be installed into a home if desired, providing extra space and storage to your home.

Does Florida have basements?

Generally, homes in Florida do not have basements. Occasionally, they can be found in the hills of Northern and Central Florida, but it is rare. It is not recommended to build or purchase a house with a basement in Florida. In the United States, basements are considerably more popular in the North than the South.

Why are homes so cheap in Texas?

Texas houses are affordable because of the state's large availability of vacant land, low tax rates, relaxed building restrictions, and available building supplies. Texas also has one of the strongest economies in the world, and the cost of living is quite cheap, making housing prices even more accessible.

Why are houses in California made of stucco?

Stucco is extremely durable. It is fire-resistant and has the ability to expand and contract with the seasonal shifts. It is known to last for up to 50 years before needing to be replaced.

Why are houses built of wood in California?

The most notable being its availability and inexpensiveness. Also, construction with other materials is expensive and the cost of labor for such materials is quite high. The idea of demolishing and rebuilding is easier with wooden houses which are very common in California.

Why are there no basements in the West Coast?

In contrast, houses in states such as California are extremely expensive, and adding basements will only drive the cost through the roof. Basements built in California are often below sea level, so extra measures must be taken to prevent flooding and other water-related issues.

Why does Canada have basements?

The reason we have basements at all is because years ago people needed to have frost-free spaces before the days that heating systems kept homes above freezing all the time.

What do you call a basement that is half underground?

In architecture, a semi-basement is a floor of a building that is half below ground, rather than entirely such as a true basement or cellar.

What is the point of a basement?

A basement is a useful place to live, work or store items, even today. Some people choose to have a fully furnished basement that functions as a bedroom, while some leave it mostly unfurnished and choose to look at it as more of an additional storage space.

Why do houses in Colorado have basements?

Colder climates like Colorado tend to have more homes with basements because generally, homes are more stable when they're anchored below the frost line. The Colorado frost line is about three to four feet below the surface, and digging an eight-foot basement puts the home's footings solidly below the frost line.