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Basements
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Why are houses in Britain not built with a basement as in America?
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The answer is partly fashion and partly cost-related.
To me, being a small island with relatively little land, the case for having basements is stronger here than in the countries with lots of land. Also there are many European countries where basements are standard (Denmark, for example).
In the UK, the majority of new houses are built by large-scale developers who are merely interested in converting land into a profit - not thinking about what customer prefer.
And customer are equally at fault - many won't pay for a basement - they are probably an average of 3x more expensive per square metre of space created to construct than other forms of space.
To me, being a small island with relatively little land, the case for having basements is stronger here than in the countries with lots of land. Also there are many European countries where basements are standard (Denmark, for example).
In the UK, the majority of new houses are built by large-scale developers who are merely interested in converting land into a profit - not thinking about what customer prefer.
And customer are equally at fault - many won't pay for a basement - they are probably an average of 3x more expensive per square metre of space created to construct than other forms of space.
I've got a basement, and I had at my last house too.
I'm moving in a week and have discovered a hidden basement at the new house. The door won't open easily so it'll be a mystery as to whats down there unitl I move in and can force it!
A lot of old Victorian terraced houses have basements, they were originally used for storing the coal. Many can be damp, sometimes flooded in heavy rain as they have openings to the outside. Even when covered up, there has to be a gap to let the basement breathe so water can still get in.
Incidentally, my current basement extends further than the front of the house, out towards the pavement and road..
I'm moving in a week and have discovered a hidden basement at the new house. The door won't open easily so it'll be a mystery as to whats down there unitl I move in and can force it!
A lot of old Victorian terraced houses have basements, they were originally used for storing the coal. Many can be damp, sometimes flooded in heavy rain as they have openings to the outside. Even when covered up, there has to be a gap to let the basement breathe so water can still get in.
Incidentally, my current basement extends further than the front of the house, out towards the pavement and road..
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