How do you build a basement???

Question

I live in a one story house and me and my family thought about building a basement.anybody have any ideas??

Answer 1

"BigPlaya" is correct.  In alot of Southern states I understand that basements (or cellars)  are not to be found. Some feel it would be a NOVEL idea to have a basement..but an addition UP or OUT is the only way to go. I'm sure a contractor could dig a cellar if your land can handle the digging and doesnt cave in. Then you would have to have the house lifted and moved by real pros as walls ,roofs,floors etc can crack with moving. Call around for ideas from  professional foundation contractors...good luck.

Answer 2

Basement is the foundation to the house. If your house is already built on a slab you would have to move your house and redo the foundation. I'd stick with building an addition because a basement wouldnt really work.

Answer 3

It actually is possible to do without moving the house, but it isn't recommended. If the soil is unstable under the house then you have to move the house in order to do it. You need your soil to very firm even to attempt this. As well as your house needs to have Joists and crawl space under the house to start.

Dig and channel around the outside of the house for the basement walls. Build the basement walls. I would recommend 9 or 10 foot walls. Extend the joists and turn every other joist in your floor into a 3 board wide girder going all the way through the floor and supported on your new basement walls. Now remove the dirt under the house. You should be able to fit smaller digging equipment under the house without any problems without resorting to shovels. Pour the basement floor, and you are done.

Congrats, you now have a house without any posts in the basement. However, it won't be cheaper or quicker than moving the house. But you will be able to live there during construction.

Answer 4

Dig a hole is a good place to start. No easy answer here, move the house sideways and dig  hole, pour a foundation and put the house back on top of it.

Answer 5

You need to contact a professional general contractor in your area.  They should be listed in the phone book.  It is expensive and can be complicated.  The source provides some general information

Answer 6

1. Visualize - Visualize your idea of a basement bar in your mind. This should be a good starting point on how to build a basement bar. Before anything else, you got to imagine how it is going to look like. Draw it on a sheet of paper. Go down to your basement and figure out which corner you want to put the bar.

2. The Plan - Make a basement bar checklist. After you got a basement drawing in your sketch pad, you should be able to imagine the materials and tools to use in setting it up. Other than wood, you should be able to see things like electrical wirings, lighting fixtures, framing, plumbing, and all other things you can see through in your sketch.

3. Inspiration - Check out your friends' basement bars. Supposing you still do not have a clear view of what needs to consider in this project. You may want to visit your friends who have basement bars. And do not ever forget to ask them pointers in how to build a basement bar. That is probably one of the most reliable help you could get. For sure, your friends would be more than willing to share their experience.

4. Basement Bar Photos - Check out home design magazines. This medium is another source of ideas in how to build a basement bar. The thing is that your plans of realizing this project only happens when you have your concept clear. These types of magazines help you imagine what you hope to achieve with your basement bar because they show pictures. This is a big advantage especially if your grades in art class were very low.

5. The Right Materials - Materials to use. Yes of course you got to know this. In the planning stage, materials and labor cost are usually what determines a project's cost. At this point, it is not enough to just know the basics how to build a basement bar. Extra knowledge is a very important factor as well.

6. Supplies and equipment. Common sense and experience will tell you that when you see a bar, there is always liquor and most often music. Although this can be thought of in details when your bar is almost finished, it may help to include this in your preparations. Maybe know a little bit about what brand of wine, brandy, or whatever liquor you know that can suit your taste. Perhaps your preference has a lot to do with the mood you set in your bar. Then of course knowing a little bit about music equipment can lead you to understand what type of speakers you need to install. Acoustic insulation is also a consideration if you want music piped in to your basement bar.

Now that you have the design plan listed out for your little project, it is time to work on it. The good thing about this is that you can do it yourself. If you have no background in carpentry or interior designing, this is a good time to learn. Then maybe, in the future, you might want to share your experience. You might want to return the favor by giving your personal tips on how to build a basement bar.