Why do houses in Canada have basements?

Canadian houses initially have basements due to climate which makes it necessary to have the footer below the frost line. But the basement has more utility. It offers great space, provides protection against natural disasters and the temperature there makes it a good place to stay during the summer.

Why do houses in cold climates have basements?

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. It's simply more practical to install a basement if the foundation is already this deep to begin with.

Is it okay to live in basement in Canada?

It is very common for newcomers to Canada to rent a basement apartment in Canada as their first home. It may not sound too appealing but in Canada, basements are usually quite nice and no different than any other room in the house.

Why are there no concrete houses in Canada?

Wood acts as insulation rather than a thermal bridge, keeping the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter, making it a far more sustainable building house. Canadian houses are built faster and at a lower cost than typical concrete and brick residences.

What is the reason for basements?

Building foundations need to be below the frost line in order to avoid freezing pipes. The frost line in northern states tends to be several feet below ground, so basements are a helpful addition.

Life In A Basement | Basement Apartment Tour | Life In Canada | Canada Couple Vlogs

Why don t UK homes have basements?

Except for Britain, Australia and New Zealand, cellars are popular in most western countries. In the United Kingdom, almost all new homes built since the 1960s have no cellar or basement due to the extra cost of digging down further into the sub-soil and a requirement for much deeper foundations and waterproof tanking.

Why Indian houses don't have basements?

Most of Indians can't afford to have mechanical ventilation and artificial light needed in basements.

Is it healthy to live in a concrete house?

Concrete houses provide healthy environments with fewer airborne allergens, molds, and toxins than most wood-frame houses. A concrete wall system limits the infiltration of outside allergens to the inside of the house. Concrete resists mold and mildew more than wood.

Are there brick houses in Canada?

What most people in Ontario don't realize is that there are two very different types of brick houses, brick veneer and solid masonry. Solid masonry construction is also called 'Solid Brick', 'Double Brick', and sometimes 'Brick and Block'.

Why are houses made of wood in North America?

When European colonizers first came to the United States, they opted to construct many houses and commercial buildings from wood because it was readily available. Additionally, many settlers chose wood as a building material because structures can be built more quickly than when using brick or cement.

Is living in a basement unhealthy?

Hazards commonly found in basements include toxic chemicals, pests, mold, indoor air quality issues (such as dangerous gases) and fire hazards that can affect all rooms of the home.

Does living in a basement cause depression?

“There is often less natural light in basement dwellings, which can lead to feeling depressed,” says Sinclair Kruth. “A lack of natural light can also lead to difficulty sleeping and disrupted sleep-wake cycles, which can lead to feeling fatigued but not able to rest properly.

What is a legal basement in Canada?

In Ontario, a legal basement apartment is a secondary unit that meets Ontario Building Code requirements. Basically, if your property meets the zoning codes for your area, and your building is over five years old, your second unit needs the following: At least 145 square feet of space.

Why does California not have basements?

“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.

Why can't Florida 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.

Why doesn't Texas have basements?

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.

Are homes in Canada insulated?

The Canadian approach to housing is extremely sophisticated. In their climate, where temperatures can vary from minus 35 to plus 35 degrees throughout the year, they must pay attention to insulation and energy efficiency. But the Canadians go much further than merely setting basic standards, like we do.

What are walls made of in Canada?

There are three main types of wall construction used in Canadian houses. Solid walls – built of brick, stone, concrete block, log or wood plank – do not have a cavity that can be insulated. The only option is to add insulation to the exterior or to the interior.

Why are there no concrete houses in America?

There are a few reasons why US homes are made of wood and bricks instead of concrete. The first reason is availability. The USA has vast forests to supply building materials. Second, history plays a large role in how people build their homes, as does American culture and style.

Why are houses in Florida built with cinder blocks?

Block-built dwellings were formerly popular in Florida. Concrete-block buildings were preferred over frame-built houses by consumers and builders because they were deemed to be stronger, more resistant to termites, and free of the rot problems that may damage wood.

Are concrete homes cold?

The thermal mass of the walls and the tight seals at joints enable concrete homes to excel at keeping conditioned air in and extreme temperatures out. Temperature control. The tight building envelope also means concrete houses have fewer hot and cold zones and less draftiness.

Why are English houses so small?

There are two reasons why most British houses are so small: first, they were built before building regulations required larger homes; second, they're still being used for income rather than occupancy purposes, so owners don't need that much space.

What is a Yankee basement?

A Yankee basement is a root cellar. The name for the space comes from the dugout in baseball, which is the area where teams have their benches located in foul territory.

Why do American homes 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.