Build a shallow basement, erect short side walls on top of concrete wall for short side walls, saving cost of wall materials and easier roofing installation access. Guessing a basement stair is on opposite gable end.
Cool build, if you have the land slopes that accommodate it. In fact, the cost of property was likely lower due to limiting construction type. Home - shop - whatever you like.
Friends of our family were building their own house and they built the basement first and ran out of money that year so they put the roof on the basement and lived there for a couple of years.
There are a couple of those homes around this part of the world. I met a couple that built this way. Like Anon 5:08, they started with the basement, ran out of money, and roofed it. Later, when they had the money, they just decided that they liked it the way it was. Nice folks. They are related to the family that had owned the property I am on since the dawn of time (or what passes for it in this part of the country). It went thru two other parties before I bought it.
Lived in a berm home like this for 5 years, helluva cheap to heat in -30° winter, with lots of windows south-facing.
Too bad is was only an hour away from the Twin Shitties, but there are quite a few of them built in the late 70s to early 80s around here where the water table allows it.
My uncle and a cousin both built their houses this way. Stick in a basement and a roof and finish when the cash becomes available. SW PA RidgeRunner construction. Still see one on rare occasion.
Earth sheltered homes are easy/cheap to heat and cool. My house was originally just a basement that was buried in the front and fully above ground in the back. Several years later when an Interstate highway was put in behind the house, they bought a house of similar dimensions that had to be moved and sat it on top of the basement house.
My folks called them Depression houses. They started building and then the Great Depression hit and they had to finish the house with what was on hand.
Years ago a buddy of mine wanted to build an underground house, problem is our water table is about 6 inches below the top soil... Troy I said I don't think it would work here , it would be like building in a full swimming pool.... He scratches his chin for a bit then says well I can build it above ground then bury it... Fortunately his wife shut that shit down quick... JD
I lived in a basement house when I was growing up in Wyoming, I believe it was more by design than budget. Entranced was through an 8 ft tall dormer entrance with a regular size door. Great for the winters and wind in that part of the country. Seems like they follow the concept of early sod homes that were built into a cut or depression.
Great R value
ReplyDeleteBuild a shallow basement, erect short side walls on top of concrete wall for short side walls, saving cost of wall materials and easier roofing installation access. Guessing a basement stair is on opposite gable end.
ReplyDeleteCool build, if you have the land slopes that accommodate it. In fact, the cost of property was likely lower due to limiting construction type. Home - shop - whatever you like.
That's the funniest thing I've seen for a long time
ReplyDeletewhy? you don't get out much, do you.
DeleteFriends of our family were building their own house and they built the basement first and ran out of money that year so they put the roof on the basement and lived there for a couple of years.
ReplyDeleteIt was a very nice house when they finished it
That's it. Used to see it quite a bit. Build it in stages.
DeleteThe chances of dying by jumping off the roof have been minimized.
ReplyDeleteTalk about easy to clean gutters. That's my kind of place.
ReplyDeleteI thought the home owner had been lazy about cutting their grass.
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of those homes around this part of the world. I met a couple that built this way. Like Anon 5:08, they started with the basement, ran out of money, and roofed it. Later, when they had the money, they just decided that they liked it the way it was. Nice folks. They are related to the family that had owned the property I am on since the dawn of time (or what passes for it in this part of the country). It went thru two other parties before I bought it.
ReplyDeleteThe first one I ever saw was on 31E headed down to Gallatin on the right hand side, and there's a partially buried one on my road.
DeleteLived in a berm home like this for 5 years, helluva cheap to heat in -30° winter, with lots of windows south-facing.
ReplyDeleteToo bad is was only an hour away from the Twin Shitties, but there are quite a few of them built in the late 70s to early 80s around here where the water table allows it.
Similar house near me, flat roof, probably built in the 1960's or 70's, one side opens up toward a nice pond.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a house like that. The house burned down, they were not insured and they only had enough money for a roof.
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa
My uncle and a cousin both built their houses this way. Stick in a basement and a roof and finish when the cash becomes available. SW PA RidgeRunner construction. Still see one on rare occasion.
ReplyDeleteEarth sheltered homes are easy/cheap to heat and cool. My house was originally just a basement that was buried in the front and fully above ground in the back. Several years later when an Interstate highway was put in behind the house, they bought a house of similar dimensions that had to be moved and sat it on top of the basement house.
ReplyDeleteMy folks called them Depression houses. They started building and then the Great Depression
ReplyDeletehit and they had to finish the house with what was on hand.
Years ago a buddy of mine wanted to build an underground house, problem is our water table is about 6 inches below the top soil... Troy I said I don't think it would work here , it would be like building in a full swimming pool.... He scratches his chin for a bit then says well I can build it above ground then bury it... Fortunately his wife shut that shit down quick...
ReplyDeleteJD
AND the savings on heating and cooling costs are enormous. Smart!
ReplyDeleteI lived in a basement house when I was growing up in Wyoming, I believe it was more by design than budget. Entranced was through an 8 ft tall dormer entrance with a regular size door. Great for the winters and wind in that part of the country. Seems like they follow the concept of early sod homes that were built into a cut or depression.
ReplyDelete