- cellar. noununderground story of building. apartment. basement. subbasement.
Moreover, What is the difference between a cellar and basement? A true basement is below grade and can be half a level above the street. A cellar, on the other hand, is below ground. A basement may have windows.
What is the opposite of a basement?
▲ Opposite of the floor of a building which is partly or entirely below ground level. attic.
Likewise, What is another word for downstairs? In this page you can discover 23 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for downstairs, like: ground floor, on the floor below, basement, first-floor, downstair, down, on a lower floor, living-room, dining-room, loo and cloakroom.
What is a Yankee basement? A Yankee basement is a root cellar. The name for the space comes from the dugout in baseball, which is the area where teams have their benches located in foul territory.
What are the different types of basements?
There are 3 basic types of basements:
- Masonry Wall Basements. The basement walls are constructed with masonry block units. …
- Precast Panel Basements. …
- Poured Concrete Wall Basements. …
- Choose the basement entrance carefully. …
- Stairway design. …
- Include windows. …
- Vary lighting. …
- Don’t scrimp on finishes.
What was the original purpose of a basement?
Originally, root cellars almost exclusively stored items that needed to be kept cooler before the invention of the refrigerator. However, the modern basement tends to have a more expansive purpose. The move toward a larger, more furnished basement probably speaks to its usage as an additional living and storage space.
Is living in a basement unhealthy?
Hazards commonly found in basements include toxic chemicals, pests, mold, indoor air quality issues (such as dangerous gases) and fire hazards that can affect all rooms of the home.
Why you shouldnt live in a basement?
Basements have features that expose the people living in them to certain risk factors, like mould, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and radon. Risk of flooding, sewer backup, etc.
Should you open windows in basement?
Always Shut Basement Windows It could mean downtime and disruption to your normal life. Moisture buildup can also damage your floor covering and insulation. Your air conditioner will suck this moist air through the subfloor. When this air gets into the rest of the house, it will warp your wood floors too.
Can you sleep in a basement without windows?
The IRC requires habitable basements to have emergency egress points, but these need not be in the form of windows. However, some local codes may amend this to prohibit such dwellings. Living in windowless basements protects furniture and privacy, but can lead to health problems.
Are basement bedrooms Safe?
In short, yes. You can use your basement as a bedroom, but you have to ensure that it complies with the proper building codes. Basement living spaces require an emergency exit and rescue openings, also known as an egress code.
Is it healthy to sleep in a basement?
“Basements are often damp, and moisture and mold go hand-in-hand,” says Robert Weitz, a certified microbial investigator and founder of RTK Environmental. “Mold and poor indoor air quality have been known to trigger allergies that cause coughs and headaches, as well as irritations to the nose, skin, and eyes.
How do I keep the air in my basement fresh?
How to Keep Your Basement Smelling Fresh:
- Keep the home and the basement adequately ventilated. Air needs to flow through the home to allow for it to be kept clean. …
- Control the humidity. …
- Clean your dryer vent. …
- Waterproof the basement. …
- Keep the home clean. …
- Repair all leaks.
How do you get fresh air in your basement?
Floor fans and a dehumidifier are additional options that may help keep a basement adequately ventilated. Another option is to install exhaust fans that connect to vents located throughout the basement. These fans can be permanently installed in windows or might require cutting through a basement wall to install.
What happens if you never open your windows?
Not only can keeping openings closed cause condensation issues inside your house (i.e. weeping windows), which we know can lead to mould, it also allows toxins already inside the home to build up. That includes volatile organic compounds, mold spores, dust, smoke, radon, viruses and bacteria.
What are the three types of basements?
Various materials can be used when building a basement, however there are three main types of basement construction: poured concrete, block or masonry walls, and precast panels.
What is a house without a basement called?
Slab homes are often built closer to the ground than homes with basements or crawl spaces, thus reducing the number of steps required to enter the home.
What is a house with a basement called?
A bungalow is usually a small one floor house that can be expanded by adding a bedroom down in the basement or up in the attic, so it is more the name of a one story house with room to grow.
What is the most common type of basement?
Common Basement Types Found in Homes Across the US
- Crawlspace. A crawlspace provides limited access to the plumbing and other components beneath the house. …
- Cellar. …
- Daylight. …
- Walk-Out. …
- Subbasement.
Why do southern houses not have basements?
Damp soil is the major culprit in most cases of missing basements in the southern states. Most parts of Florida, Louisiana, and eastern Texas have swaths of wetland or swamps or significant coastlines. So, there’s just too much water underground to make basement construction feasible.
What is purpose of basement?
Originally, root cellars almost exclusively stored items that needed to be kept cooler before the invention of the refrigerator. However, the modern basement tends to have a more expansive purpose. The move toward a larger, more furnished basement probably speaks to its usage as an additional living and storage space.
What is the strongest foundation for a house?
Foundations are generally made of sturdy materials that can keep the home standing even during earthquakes and cyclones. As a result, they are often built of concrete, the strongest building material. Concrete foundations are either poured into place or placed in excavated holes.
Can a basement be a bedroom UK?
It is of course, possible to put a bedroom into a basement conversion. However, when deciding what to do with your basement there are regulations and guidelines to deal with especially when it comes to bedrooms.
Why do New England homes have basements?
In cooler climates, the frost line is several feet below the surface, which is why many Northern homes have basements. It’s simply more practical to install a basement if the foundation is already this deep to begin with.
Can sleeping in a basement make you sick?
What you might not realize is that poor indoor air quality can turn your basement into a health hazard. Air quality is affected by the presence of mold, radon, and other toxins. Symptoms can include: Headache.
Can you add a basement to a house UK?
If you’re just looking to convert your existing basement, it is possible that you won’t need any permission, unless the outside appearance of your home is being altered. But, if you’re actually digging into the ground below your home, you most likely will need planning permission – which is relatively easy to get.
What is the point of a basement?
Originally, root cellars almost exclusively stored items that needed to be kept cooler before the invention of the refrigerator. However, the modern basement tends to have a more expansive purpose. The move toward a larger, more furnished basement probably speaks to its usage as an additional living and storage space.
Why do Southern states not have basements?
Places with a lot of wetlands or swampland, like Louisiana and Florida, have too much water in the soil to build below ground. The water table, an underground boundary between the soil surface and groundwater, is usually less than a meter underground in these Southern states.
