Why basements in new construction in eastern Idaho?

[mojo goat]

I noticed new houses with basements in eastern Idaho, why aren't they available in TV area?

[hermosabeach]

TV area? What is TV area?

[mojo goat]

Treasue valley, Boise area

[therealnickb]

Here you go.

[Rotnguns]

We've got a basement, but some areas, especially near the boise River, have high groundwater levels.

[Howie44]

Just about every house that's stick built in eastern Idaho that I've seen has a basement

[beanz2]

Just curious as we are building a house in southern UT. We have to dig a good 10-15 feet down into the ground to rid of expanding clay underneath. We’ll have plenty of land to build. Would a basement cost more to build than a similarly sized square footage on level ground? This is for a walk-in safe/vault, so a good drainage and humidity control is paramount.

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[sigstroker]

I would imagine it's cheaper than building above ground because you don't need a roof. Same reason sq footage in a 2 story is cheaper than a 1 story. It would be harder to break into as well because you'd have to be in the house, no access to outside walls.

Make a secret entrance in a closet or something like that.

[beanz2]

Yes, but a basement also needs steps. I don't know how extensive the waterproofing and drainage has to be, but a small undetected leak and your guns will suffer.

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[sigstroker]

You can get a detector that goes off if water touches it. I don't know if there are any that goes off on just high humidity.

[Whiskey3]

Basements get the foundation below the ground freeze line. Dont know the area OP speaks of. Maybe less freeze in some areas??

[nitroxdiver]

There are tons of basements in the treasure valley. New construction. Many in my neighborhood.


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[sbo80]

Being able to dig a basement depends on excavation costs (if it's too rocky) or the water table (if it's too high the basement will leak). It's really just a money thing. That video is also correct about why some places do it, since they have to dig anyway because of the freeze line. Again though it's really about money. Now today, like right now, some places if they can dig, the cost of lumber is up so much it could be cheaper to dig and pour cement than to build up a second story of wood frame, where that wasn't true previously. A builder, and a buyer, want max square footage for the lowest cost.

[Bert Gamble]

When I was a kid in Boise there were lots of houses/multi family units with basements or at least half basements where there are windows at grade level.

[-hanko]

There are still lots of houses in Boise with basements that are halfway or more underground.

For new construction, it's probably an issue of more time or more cost to excavate than to build above ground.