What do most people keep in their basements?

1. What are basements good for?
2. Why living in the basement is bad?
3. What are the rules of basements?
4. Is it worth having a basement?
5. Is it better to have a house with a basement?
6. Is basement good for house?
7. Is it depressing to live in a basement?
8. Is it legal to live in a basement?
9. Is it safe to sleep in a basement?
10. Is it hard to get planning for a basement?
11. Can I dig my own basement?
12. Can basement be used for commercial?

What are basements good for?

Extra Storage Space

With a basement, you can create an organized storage space where all of your precious items are easily located and accessed. Additionally, the basement is a perfect place to store backup food storage and other canned goods that can become cluttered if kept in your normal living space.

Why living in the basement is bad?

Some health risks to people who live in basements have been noted, for example mold, radon, and risk of injury/death due to fire. ... Presence of mold can lead to "respiratory symptoms, respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis and asthma", as well as personal belongings being contaminated by mold.

What are the rules of basements?

Basements must not exceed the property footprint, plus a maximum of 50% of the garden. They must not be more than one storey. Further basement floors will not be approved where there is an existing implemented permission or one built through permitted development rights.

Is it worth having a basement?

A finished basement can increase your property's value by 70%. While a basement does not add to the overall square footage of the house, that fact is usually beside the point for homeowners. Finished basements often function as an informal living room/family room, office, home classroom space, and guest rooms.

Is it better to have a house with a basement?

House plans with basements are best if the structural footings can extend below the frost line in order to avoid damage from freezing and thawing. Safe rooms. House plans with basements offer a safe haven in dangerous weather.

Is basement good for house?

Basement is a need of every house today, but according to Vastu basement should be avoided in residence because low room/space or empty space under the house is not considered auspicious. However seeing the requirement of people, basement if made in house should not be used for living or sleeping purpose.

Is it depressing to live in a basement?

“There is often less natural light in basement dwellings, which can lead to feeling depressed,” says Sinclair Kruth. “A lack of natural light can also lead to difficulty sleeping and disrupted sleep-wake cycles, which can lead to feeling fatigued but not able to rest properly.

Is it legal to live in a basement?

Basements in a residential property can only be lawfully rented or occupied if its conditions meet the requirements for light, air, sanitation, and exits. The Department of Buildings also must approve the spaces. If you're wondering if your apartment is illegal, you can check with the Department of Buildings.

Is it safe to sleep in a basement?

In high-risk areas, radon has a tendency to seep through basement cracks. Radon can then become trapped in a poorly ventilated basement, where it can threaten the health of occupants and potentially increase their risk of developing lung cancer.

Is it hard to get planning for a basement?

“Basement projects are expensive and technically much more difficult to design, build and waterproof than above ground extensions. Arranging insurance can also be complicated and expensive. In most cases water has to be pumped from the basement level for the rest of the life of the property.”

Can I dig my own basement?

Dig Out the Current Crawl Space

Most basements are the same height as typical roofs, which means they'll need to be around eight feet tall. An eight-foot basement requires digging out a crawl space at least a few feet, if not up to around six feet.

Can basement be used for commercial?

The work done by professionals involves element of service and is not a commercial activity. Hence, it is not illegal. According to the National Building Code regulations or building by-laws, a basement can be used only for the purpose of storage, dark room, bank cellar, or parking space.