Built without a basement & regretted?

Hello,

When I look at the handed-over building contracts, only a vanishingly small proportion built with a basement. Some could certainly have afforded it, others preferred to invest money above ground instead. In other cases, the topic was already settled in advance due to the high land prices.

However, I can state that a basement – despite considerable additional costs – is only really worthwhile if it is also used; not just for the first two years because it’s nice to have one. It is a myth to believe that from moving into the house celebrations always take place in the basement during the cold season.

The basement topic originates from a time when it was indispensable to have one. Almost every household had a kitchen garden; the garden’s produce had to be stored somewhere. I remember well having to work in the garden from Easter until the first frost (leek); not so great as a child (every family member had to help), but indispensable for the family’s livelihood. The basement literally burst with potatoes (early and late) and vegetables of all kinds throughout the year.

This gradually changed starting with Aldi; Aldi founded its enormous success on buying up the Berlin reserves of the Federal Republic. Suddenly, peas no longer had to be shelled by hand, beans cut, fruit picked and canned … and all at an unbeatable low price, which made the arduous garden work seem crazy. As a result, gardens gradually turned into purely ornamental gardens. From this point on, the phenomenon also appeared that existing basements served as storage areas for everything “that might still be needed.” It was not uncommon for these stored “treasures” to be discarded unused as bulky waste in later years. Until then, however, they were “well off.”

Recently, I sat opposite young people where one partner is a trained master carpenter. They want to build a basement and “of course” a workshop should be created in the basement. Now, my grandfather was also a master carpenter and I know very well what discussions about noise (circular saws reach levels that make your head burst) and dust will be conducted in this household in the future. I am quite sure that the builder’s dream will quickly evaporate if the basement is built. Then it was a rather expensive dream.

Anyone considering building a basement should be very clear about what use the underground space is to serve. For example, occasional table tennis – in my opinion, much more fun in good weather and outside – is an expensive decision. In other words, no one should be under the mistaken impression that – just because it’s possible through a basement – the course of the seasons and thereby the usual activities will suddenly take place year-round in the basement. On the other hand, if snooker is played often and regularly and the table finds no place above ground, a basement is definitely worth a second thought.

Among the customers for whom we have built a basement, it is used regularly and year-round. For some as an office, for others as regular living space, and still others have set up a small wellness spa in the basement. All uses have in common that they are exercised permanently and do not just reflect a dream.

HTH
Rhenish regards

Without a basement, you have to go to the landfill at least once a year. With a basement, you only need to do that when generations change...

Think, think, we have a basement and still go at least twice a year to the landfill and to the electronic waste disposal. Maybe because we don’t have enough space in the basement to hoard???