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Aussie
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# Posted: 29 May 2012 04:59am
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Hi everyone! I just registered for this great forum 
I as wondering if anyone has built (or seen) a cabin with a basement? In my part of the world, basements don't really exist. I intend to move to a cold climate when I can afford to build my cabin, and a basement would be a great way to add some space...
Is it worth the effort? Am I too optimistic in thinking it's just a matter of digging a hole, laying some cement, bricking the walls, waterproofing, backfilling, then building my cabin on top?
Thanks for all the great posts on this forum... I'll be reading for hours!
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jbos333
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# Posted: 29 May 2012 07:03am
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I'm in the final planning stages of a cabin with basement. My site lends itself to a walkout basement, which makes it a lot more useable. I have considered piers, slab, crawlspace, etc. but the difference in cost is not enough to give up that extra space.
FYI, I had gotten 2 quotes for poured concrete footers/walls, both were around $9000 for 24x40 size. This doesn't include excavation/waterproofing, or flatwork (floor). I then got a quote on a concrete block basement the same size from an Amish mason. $5500.00. He can also do the flatwork for about $3.00/sq. ft.
So, less than 10,000 for approx 900 sq. ft. of useable space. And that doesn't take into account what you'd spend on the alternative foundation that would not add any useable space (piers, crawl, slab).
So, I think it's a no-brainer in my case.
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hattie
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# Posted: 29 May 2012 10:58am - Edited by: hattie
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The water table is pretty high where we live, so basements aren't common. We built a small, concrete coldroom under our place. It is only 5 X 8 ft of usable space, but is perfect for keeping preserves, extra flour, sugar, dog food, etc.
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Aqua
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# Posted: 30 May 2012 01:11am
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Can you give any estimates on what the other foundations cost? I am curious for comparison purposes. Thanks.
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jbos333
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# Posted: 30 May 2012 07:36am
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Aqua, if you're asking me for prices, I'd just be guessing at this point, but if memory serves I think a pier system for this size was around $2500, and a Thickened-edge slab was around $5000-5500. I believe the price on the piers included the excavation of the holes, and the slab price included site work as well. And, of course, the worst one to do is a crawl space! I only say this because you are going to excavate, pour footers and lay block anyway, it isn't that much more to add the necessary height to double your space!
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OwenChristensen
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# Posted: 30 May 2012 09:31am
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In anything less than a dry climate where there is frost in winter, a basement will not survive unless heated. Maybe if you have great drainage it might work. Frost without moisture is no problem.
Also at $100 a yard a basement can cost more than the framed floor. Money better spent would be to just build larger.
Owen
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TomChum
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# Posted: 30 May 2012 10:52am - Edited by: TomChum
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Quoting: OwenChristensen Money better spent would be to just build larger.......
It could add welcome sq footage and storage, and still look like a "small-cabin" if that's what someone wants (me for example). Access can take up a lot of space though, depending on how "EZ" the access needs to be.
Quoting: OwenChristensen where there is frost in winter, a basement will not survive unless heated. Maybe if you have great drainage it might work. Frost without moisture is no problem.
This is interesting, Owen please explain further.
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hattie
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# Posted: 30 May 2012 12:35pm
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Quoting: OwenChristensen In anything less than a dry climate where there is frost in winter, a basement will not survive unless heated.
It can get as low as minus 40 celcius with 5 feet of snow here in the winter and our cold room has no heat at all. We have no problems in our unheated cold room.
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OwenChristensen
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# Posted: 30 May 2012 02:15pm - Edited by: OwenChristensen
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Damp soil against a concrete wall if frozen will increase in size and no concrete can withstand the presure. The basements that are under ''normal '' home are alway kept warm, even if not directly heated. ezingIf the rest of the home has heat that should be enough to keep frost away from basement walls. Dry gravel and sand hold very little water and won't swell enough to break concrete. Even a city home left unheated will start to fall apart in just a year or two.
You can build on posts or just on top of the ground on skids, if there's a chance you won't be heating your cabin the whole winter. Of course that's mostly where there is a freezing winter.
I'll take some pictures of broken basements and post in a couple weeks.
Owen
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