Why build a basement?
How much does basement space cost? Building almost any home requires digging, from a few inches to a few feet. By increasing the digging to 6–8 feet, forming walls of the desired height, and pouring a concrete slab at the bottom, a contractor can make a foundation into a full basement. The incremental cost can be as little as $10 per square foot over the cost of a shallower, stem wall foundation, or $20 per square foot over the cost of a simple slab on grade—far below the cost of constructing more space in the above-ground portions of a house. > Return to top Why is my basement built of concrete? For basement construction, concrete is by far the product of choice. Concrete provides a permanent, stable base for a house to rest on and creates an enclosed space protected from the ground, rodents and weather. Sturdy concrete walls are highly resistant to shifting or sagging under ground and water pressure, often for a century or more. When necessary, strength can be enhanced by increasing
