Usable basement: Insulate, heat, raise ceiling?

Hello, that’s exactly what we are doing now. So instead of windows, a ventilation system in the basement. We had the recommendation in the soil report because of flooding. Best regards

Can you possibly elaborate a bit more on that? Did it "just work" or did you have to consider something special?

Hello, as mentioned, we had the recommendation and previously also planned windows without a ventilation system.

The house is now built higher and has no windows in the basement. I also don't think I will miss them much. The construction company removed the windows and planned the ventilation system larger or completely, it was not a problem.

Our basement is, however, included in the thermal envelope and has a white tank, I don't know if that makes a difference. We also planned a chimney connection in the hobby room just in case.

Best regards

The house is now higher and has no windows in the basement. I also don’t think I will miss them much.

I find this fact very interesting. Windows serve not only for ventilation but also for lighting. While I would probably just leave the door open for ventilation, I get annoyed when I constantly have to turn on the light in our basement without windows to see something. In the utility room with a window, the dusk bothers me… You have a space problem with over 10 x 12 meters (I assume 2 stories)? Then you are one of those who need more than 2 children’s rooms?! Anyway… for your actual use, the basement is probably too big. The hallway is huge as are the basement rooms. I would try to actually make good use of the square meters in the basement and plan it with some passion. Then maybe the answers to your questions will come by themselves. For example, you could also create a nice window for a bedroom/office on the wall of the outside stairs. The square meters saved upstairs could be paid for by the underfloor heating in the basement?! If there are outside stairs, which can also have advantages regarding storage of vehicles, then you also save living space in the garden… a youth room / party basement saves large children’s rooms. I don’t see 2.25 meters height as a dilemma. But for a sports room it can never be high enough ;)

Flood area, basement without windows, outside stairs, that clashes. Is everything sealed, as if you are building next to the Elbe, also structurally designed that way?

Flood zone, basement without windows, outside stairs, that clashes. Is everything sealed, as if you were building next to the Elbe, also structurally designed that way?

This is not a flood zone..? We simply have everything properly sealed so that the walls, joints, and floor are tight in case it rains heavily, soil report is coming in a few days, but our neighbors had that as a recommendation too. Basement without windows was just an idea and the outside stairs as well.

You have a space problem with about 10 x 12 meters (I assume 2 stories)? Then you are one of those who need more than 2 children's rooms?!

Hi

the post was already posted then..

Flood area, basement without windows,
outside stairs, that contradicts itself.
Is everything sealed, as if you were building next to the Elbe, also structurally designed that way?

This is not a flood area..? We just have everything properly sealed so that the walls, joints, and floor are tight, in case it rains heavily. The ground survey will come in the next few days, but our neighbors also had that as a recommendation.

Basement without windows was just an idea, and the outside stairs as well.

You have a space problem with over 10 x 12 meters (I assume 2 stories)? Then you are one of those who need more than 2 children's rooms?!

Hi , I had written that the floor plans are just placeholders. We originally started from a "minimal partial-use basement" - it had technology and 2 storage rooms, cost 56k. In the planning, the basement became a bit larger and got a third room (which made sense for the house shape) and was 66k, and the full basement then only 69k. That’s why we arrived at this size. And the first one was 2 weeks ago..

We are only allowed to build 1.5 stories, space needed is 4 bedrooms, 2 offices, living area. I will certainly post the final floor plans here again, but the latest iteration from the architect has not yet come back.

For example, you could also create a nice window for a bedroom/office on the wall of the outside stairs. The saved sqm upstairs could pay for the underfloor heating in the basement?!

We discussed this extensively and do not want living spaces in the basement.

Right now the question is simply what risks we take with an uninsulated and unheated basement. plus a few smaller whims