| Posted By |
Message |
| Pages: [1] 2 |
browneyedgirl
family is all that matters
Member since 6/06 6513 total posts
Name:
browneyes
|
can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
My house is on a slab. It's a high ranch and I wish more than anything that we had a basement. Is it even possible?
|
Posted 2/23/12 3:20 PM  |
| |
|
Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource | Long Island Weddings |
|
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
No
|
| Posted 2/23/12 3:31 PM |
| |
|
neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
Actually, I think you can...but you'd have to lift the whole house...and it would be VERY $$$$.
|
| Posted 2/23/12 3:40 PM |
| |
|
Dani
Life is about choices.
Member since 5/05 6532 total posts
Name:
Dani
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
you can..but you'd have to do it over an new area and extend your house over that.
|
| Posted 2/23/12 3:40 PM |
| |
|
GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
I honestly think it would be cheaper to knock the house down, then dig the basement, then rebuild the house on top of it. Since it's on a slab, the floor isn't designed to be suspended over anything, so you would need to re-engineer the floor. Then, you'd have to try and lift it and move it to dig the basement. Then move it back over the huge hole in the ground.
You can't just dig a basement in-place. If you had a crawl space, you'd have a better chance. My contractor is pretty sure that my house originally had a crawl space that was dug deeper, since the basement walls are built in that style. At least for some of the basement.
|
| Posted 2/23/12 3:53 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
It's definitely possible. Hi ranches are almost never built with basements, but in my office, we've recently sold a couple of hi ranch style homes that did have basements. In those particular instances, the previous owners dug out the basement to create one below the existing house.
It adds significant value to a hi ranch since a basement is so rare with that style home.
I have no idea about costs or logistics, but I know it can be done and has been done!
|
| Posted 2/23/12 4:30 PM |
| |
|
CunningOne
***
Member since 5/05 26975 total posts
Name:
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
Posted by TAFKAD
you can..but you'd have to do it over an new area and extend your house over that.
This. I know someone who did this.
We are in a high ranch too and would love to build up! Our lower level is already half underground, so going down for a basement isn't in the works!
|
| Posted 2/23/12 5:14 PM |
| |
|
Jenn627
Laaaaaaaambert!
Member since 5/08 9818 total posts
Name:
Jenn
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
My bro just looked into this - he was quoted $40K to dig it out.
|
| Posted 2/23/12 5:42 PM |
| |
|
M514
Hi
Member since 8/10 6011 total posts
Name:
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
Posted by chmlengr
Posted by TAFKAD
you can..but you'd have to do it over an new area and extend your house over that.
This. I know someone who did this.
We are in a high ranch too and would love to build up! Our lower level is already half underground, so going down for a basement isn't in the works!
My friend's parents did this to their house. They added on an extra room in the back of their house and were able to put in a basement under that room.
|
| Posted 2/23/12 6:33 PM |
| |
|
Faithx2
All good things in 2016!!
Member since 8/05 20181 total posts
Name:
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
Posted by Jenn627
My bro just looked into this - he was quoted $40K to dig it out.
Yep you can do it but it's costly!
|
| Posted 2/24/12 7:44 AM |
| |
|
CSK
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/11 892 total posts
Name:
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
you can build up too, just there are hieght restrictions in all areas. Depending on how High your high ranch is, it may or may not be possible.
I beleive in TOH the restriction is 30 ft
|
| Posted 2/24/12 10:19 AM |
| |
|
jam11308
Member since 11/07 7273 total posts
Name:
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
It can be done. I have a regular single-story ranch that was built in the 1950s on a slab. My FIL grew up in the house & in the late 1960s they dug out the basement. There are 2 support posts in the basement & a header beam that runs right below the original load bearing wall that is upstairs. There is also a retainer wall/shelf that is several feet deep & runs the entire perimeter of the basement. This actually reduces the usable space quite a bit. It wasn't a problem when the space was unfinished, but when we did the basement last year it turned out a lot smaller than our upstairs areas.
The basement is under the original living area of the home, but not below the garage area which was unfinished at the time (they later converted that to living space as well). I honestly have no idea how much something like that would cost since it was done so long ago, but it can definitely be done.
I will mention that I believe it caused our house to "settle" more than an average house. I could be wrong & this might happen in lots of houses, but we have a crack that runs from 1 corner of EVERY door frame/archway and window in that part of the house right up to the ceiling. We fill & repaint them every other year, but they all come back again within 6 months so I think we're going to give up at this point. Also, our wood floors are sturdy & safe, but man are they creaky in certain areas of the house!! Mostly right above where the support posts are downstairs. Given the option, I'd probably have chosen to go up myself. At this point if we ever need more space we're going to need to move because I don't think our home could support a 2nd floor now & even if it could it would probably cost a fortune in additional reinforcements that probably wouldn't have been needed before! HTH!
Message edited 2/24/2012 11:29:39 AM.
|
| Posted 2/24/12 11:20 AM |
| |
|
Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
Posted by browneyedgirl
My house is on a slab. It's a high ranch and I wish more than anything that we had a basement. Is it even possible?
You can, as everyone said, but with what it would cost I *personally* don't think it's worth it.
I live on a slab too and I HAAAATE it!!!............even more so this week. We're on our second slab leak in two days. Waiting to hear what the damage will be now. I would LOVE a basement but in this house I am stuck without. But in the future, I will NEVER buy on a slab again. Aside from the lack of storage, the leaks are a real PITA!! 
|
| Posted 2/24/12 11:48 AM |
| |
|
smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by browneyedgirl
My house is on a slab. It's a high ranch and I wish more than anything that we had a basement. Is it even possible?
You can, as everyone said, but with what it would cost I *personally* don't think it's worth it.
I live on a slab too and I HAAAATE it!!!............even more so this week. We're on our second slab leak in two days. Waiting to hear what the damage will be now. I would LOVE a basement but in this house I am stuck without. But in the future, I will NEVER buy on a slab again. Aside from the lack of storage, the leaks are a real PITA!!
I am happy to say that I never had a leak.
Message edited 2/24/2012 6:20:07 PM.
|
| Posted 2/24/12 6:19 PM |
| |
|
smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
I am sure anything is possible but at a price.
I asked about a basement under an addition. To give you an idea, for a basement under a 12X19 addition, it would cost approximately $19K.
|
| Posted 2/24/12 6:47 PM |
| |
|
browneyedgirl
family is all that matters
Member since 6/06 6513 total posts
Name:
browneyes
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
thank you all for your replies!
we are currently weighing our options on what we want to do. next step will be calling an architect.
luckily, we've never had a problem with our slab leaking.
|
| Posted 2/24/12 7:44 PM |
| |
|
Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
Posted by smdl
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by browneyedgirl
My house is on a slab. It's a high ranch and I wish more than anything that we had a basement. Is it even possible?
You can, as everyone said, but with what it would cost I *personally* don't think it's worth it.
I live on a slab too and I HAAAATE it!!!............even more so this week. We're on our second slab leak in two days. Waiting to hear what the damage will be now. I would LOVE a basement but in this house I am stuck without. But in the future, I will NEVER buy on a slab again. Aside from the lack of storage, the leaks are a real PITA!!
I am happy to say that I never had a leak.
I am jealous!!!! Wanna trade houses??  
|
| Posted 2/24/12 7:56 PM |
| |
|
PatsBrat
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 2326 total posts
Name:
Ms. Brat
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
Posted by smdl
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by browneyedgirl
My house is on a slab. It's a high ranch and I wish more than anything that we had a basement. Is it even possible?
You can, as everyone said, but with what it would cost I *personally* don't think it's worth it.
I live on a slab too and I HAAAATE it!!!............even more so this week. We're on our second slab leak in two days. Waiting to hear what the damage will be now. I would LOVE a basement but in this house I am stuck without. But in the future, I will NEVER buy on a slab again. Aside from the lack of storage, the leaks are a real PITA!!
I am happy to say that I never had a leak.
Me too. I thank god every day that I've never had a slab leak! What a nightmare that must be! I guess we are just super lucky!
|
| Posted 2/24/12 8:04 PM |
| |
|
SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
What is a slab leak? My parentshouse is on a slab, they have lived there 30 yrs and nothing like that has ever happened. My house is part on a slab and that has never happened.
|
| Posted 2/25/12 8:39 AM |
| |
|
Jan1975
.
Member since 8/09 3846 total posts
Name:
Sarah
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
If you can afford it why not just add another floor to the house and use the current "underground" space for a basement. I, of course, have no clue how much that would cost, but it seems as if it might be an easier option.
|
| Posted 2/25/12 12:51 PM |
| |
|
beautyq115
New Year!
Member since 5/05 13729 total posts
Name:
Me
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
I have never heard of this...Would that alter the structure of the house, like would things shift?
|
| Posted 2/25/12 9:32 PM |
| |
|
Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
Posted by SweetTooth
What is a slab leak? My parentshouse is on a slab, they have lived there 30 yrs and nothing like that has ever happened. My house is part on a slab and that has never happened.
Houses that are built on a slab, like mine, have ALL of the plumbing in the ground under the foundation of the house. When a pipe bursts or starts to leak the only way to get to the plumbing is to rip up the floors and break through the concrete foundation. It is a giant mess and headache to expose the plumbing.
For the leak we just had we actually abandoned a line of plumbing and rerouted our pipes within the house instead of tearing up the floors. Such fun. I would never buy a house on a slab again. We have had 5-6 leaks in 6 1/2 yrs. Ridiculous!
|
| Posted 2/25/12 11:53 PM |
| |
|
menmyboys
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/11 811 total posts
Name:
Nikole
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
Posted by Century 21 Dallow - Christine Braun
It's definitely possible.
I have no idea about costs or logistics, but I know it can be done and has been done!
ITA - my friends' parents did this with their home... it was a LOT of $$$ to do it, but in the end they had a basement that was the entire perimeter of the home.
|
| Posted 2/26/12 12:44 AM |
| |
|
nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by SweetTooth
What is a slab leak? My parentshouse is on a slab, they have lived there 30 yrs and nothing like that has ever happened. My house is part on a slab and that has never happened.
Houses that are built on a slab, like mine, have ALL of the plumbing in the ground under the foundation of the house. When a pipe bursts or starts to leak the only way to get to the plumbing is to rip up the floors and break through the concrete foundation. It is a giant mess and headache to expose the plumbing.
For the leak we just had we actually abandoned a line of plumbing and rerouted our pipes within the house instead of tearing up the floors. Such fun. I would never buy a house on a slab again. We have had 5-6 leaks in 6 1/2 yrs. Ridiculous!
We had a leak and we were SUPER lucky that it was under the driveway and not the house itself. It was still a pita. We had to dig up and the redo the driveway- after getting slammed with a 1K water bill.,
|
| Posted 2/26/12 7:44 PM |
| |
|
browneyedgirl
family is all that matters
Member since 6/06 6513 total posts
Name:
browneyes
|
Re: can you dig a basement if there currently is none?
Posted by SweetApril
If you can afford it why not just add another floor to the house and use the current "underground" space for a basement. I, of course, have no clue how much that would cost, but it seems as if it might be an easier option.
I don't think that's an option for a high ranch. We haven't hired an architect yet though.
|
| Posted 2/26/12 7:50 PM |
| |
|
| Pages: [1] 2 |
