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robbin
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join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX

1 edit

robbin to r81984

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to r81984

Re: [general] Why don't houses in the south have basements

I don't know where the idea comes about that Texas has a high water table. It's not true. Basements weren't originally built to provide more living space and in fact it is hard even today to create quality living space out of a basement. True, people create living spaces and use them for storage but that is not their real function. The function of a basement is to lower the foundation to a point below the frost line to prevent frost heaving. That just isn't a problem in Texas or most parts of the south.
MaynardKrebs
We did it. We heaved Steve. Yipee.
Premium Member
join:2009-06-17

MaynardKrebs

Premium Member

said by robbin:

The function of a basement is to lower the foundation to a point below the frost line to prevent frost heaving.

Plain wrong.

You don't NEED a basement to get the foundation below the frost line. Simply excavate a trench wide enough to work in and form/pour the footing. Then add the foundation wall on top of that. There is no need to excavate an entire basement if you don't want to.

Basements, if properly built and waterproofed, can be built well below the water table.