Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a Basement. Basements are becoming increasingly rare in Pakistani homes. But what if you could create one while building a new home or buy one already built with a basement? Would you, or should you, consider include a basement in your home development budget? That depends on whether the advantages and disadvantages of basements work in your favor. Advantages and Disadvantages of Basement.
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Pros And Cons of Basements
Let’s take a look at both sides of the discussion to help you make the best decision possible. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Basement.
Pros:
Buying a home with a basement or including a basement in your house designs can provide you with the following benefits:
- Additional Storage Space
- Better Utilisation of Land
- Offers Seasonal Comfort
- Multipurpose Space
- Perfect as an Emergency Shelter
- Easy Access for Underground Repairs
- Ideal as a Rental Portion
Let’s go through these advantages of a basement in more detail below.
Additional Storage Space:
The first and most important advantage of having a basement is that it provides extra storage space without sacrificing any outdoor or interior space. It’s a complete additional floor that may be used in a variety of ways, and it’s being added to your floor plan.
Better Utilisation of Land:
Basements, as previously said, add more space to your home without lowering the amount of outside space available. As a result, you receive additional space for your needs and, owing to the presence of a basement, the same plot size is used more efficiently.
Offers Seasonal Comfort:
Basements are often well-insulated during construction because they are subterranean. As a result, they provide a cooler space to rest in during Pakistan’s sweltering summers. Meanwhile, you can be confident that when winter arrives, your basement will be warm and inviting, providing year-round comfort.
Multipurpose Space:
When a room is added to a house’s floor design, it usually serves a specific purpose. A basement, on the other hand, is one of the most adaptable areas in any home. If you require the rooms upstairs for your growing family’s demands, they may be converted into a storage room, a gym, a home cinema, a den, or even a guest bedroom. There are various options for making the most of your basement space.
Perfect as an Emergency Shelter:
Because it is completely surrounded by land, Pakistan rarely experiences hurricanes, and tornadoes are uncommon in the region. However, having an emergency shelter within your home in the event of extreme weather or political turmoil does not negate the value of having one.
Easy Access for Underground Repairs:
With a basement, sublevel repairs are much easier. Rather than pondering how to repair a leaking pipe or a squeaky floorboard from above, send your expert to the basement, where they will have quick and easy access to the plumbing and wiring systems in your home.
Ideal as a Rental Portion:
This one is ideal for retired couples with too much free time on their hands. If you live on the upper floors and the basement has its own door and is unoccupied, rent it out as a separate unit to students or young couples looking for low-cost housing. Thanks to the addition of a basement in the blueprints, you’ll be able to earn some additional cash from the comfort of your own house.
Cons:
Considering the benefits listed above, we’re only halfway through discussing the advantages and disadvantages of basements. The following are some of the drawbacks of adding a basement to your home or purchasing a home with one:
- Additional Construction Costs
- Damp and Moisture Concerns
- Dangers of Flooding
- Inconvenient Access Routes for Furniture
- High Noise Echo Levels
- Risks of Pest Infestation
- Requires Professionals for Construction
Let’s take a closer look at the scenario.
Additional Construction Costs
Houses with basements technically provide more square footage, but they are often more expensive. If, on the other hand, you decide to include a basement in your new home’s designs, you should be aware that constructing a basement necessitates excavating deeper into the foundations to make room for an additional floor. As a result, you’ll have to pay more in terms of labor and construction materials.
Damp and Moisture Concerns
To ensure that there are fewer complaints of damp walls or high moisture content, most basements are insulated and have a concrete foundation poured in. However, because basements typically lack windows and have limited access to the outdoors, sunlight is unable to penetrate the interior regions, resulting in moist walls, especially if substandard construction materials were utilized.
Dangers of Flooding
If you live in a location where there is a lot of rain and flooding every year, you should avoid buying a house with a basement because basements are the most vulnerable to flooding during Pakistan’s monsoon season.
Inconvenient Access Routes for Furniture
Going down into the basement feels like entering a cave as if you’re entering the very heart of the house. While a well-furnished basement can be quite cosy and pleasant, getting big furniture down steep steps and through tiny passageways to set up and decorate your basement to your satisfaction can be difficult.
High Noise Echo Levels
People may believe that because it is underground, it will be the quietest room in the house, but this is not the case. Because basements are underground, they offer excellent sound acoustics, echoing and amplifying all noises at ground level. While this makes them ideal for a jam session with a band or a surround sound home theatre system, they may not be suitable for a peaceful snooze.
Risks of Pest Infestation
Basements are one of the most popular hiding spots for the creepy crawlies you want to keep out of your house, thanks to high moisture levels and limited access to sunlight. If you’re planning to buy or develop a home with a basement, start with fumigation. This will keep pests at bay from the house’s very foundations.
Requires Professionals for Construction
Finding the correct labor may be the most difficult aspect of constructing a basement. If you’re buying a pre-built home, you won’t have to worry about anything, but developing a basement necessitates the services of technical professionals who will do a decent job and provide you with the greatest results. Otherwise, your house would be built on unsteady foundations.
These are some of the most important advantages and disadvantages of basements. When building or purchasing a home, keep both factors in mind, and you should be able to make the greatest option for your family’s needs. Best of luck!
