Can you build basements in florida

This is due to the terrain and climate of Florida; it makes homes with basements prone to mold and structural instability. However, if you are determined to find a home with a basement, you may be able to find one in Northern or Central Florida.

Do Homes in Florida Have Basements? Homes in Florida do not have basements because: High humidity makes a substantial risk for mold. Florida homes are built on slabs, making it impossible to build underneath. The Florida Aquifer System means water can be as close as half a foot from the surface. It is expensive to build a water-resistant basement. Where are Homes with Basements in Florida? What is an Alternative to a Basement in Florida? Instead of basements, homeowners in Florida build: Attics Lofts Garages Sheds These spaces are used for storage and leisure space, and are usually cheaper to build than basements.

The crawl space tends to be a bit cooler than the outside temperature, so condensation and moisture build up in there. The excess moisture can lead to some serious water damage, unwanted pests, and other issues.

As a result, many crawl spaces might have vapor barriers and dehumidifiers built-in to keep them dry. Here are the main alternatives that you will find in the Sunshine State:. The attic, garage, and shed solutions are relatively simple, but they have their downsides. Unless those areas are set up with dehumidifiers and other forms of climate control, cherished items like photos or documents can easily decay over time.

Air conditioning can already be expensive in the warmer months, so adding on to the cooling bill might not be affordable for everyone. See if a black metal roof on your home can get too hot and how to keep any extra heat from getting in despite the type of roof you have. Click here to see this humidifier on Amazon.

Storage units can be a quick solution to create extra space in your home. You will have to pay for a unit, but the abundant options in size and price make it an attractive solution if you need a lot of space for your items.

Basements are a great way to add cheap square footage to a home. It is a whole other house, under your house, that can be used for anything. Sure, you might have enjoyed the extra room from a basement up north, but when you come down to Florida, something is missing. There aren't many basements in Florida, and there is a solid reason for it. Newcomers to Florida are often surprised when they are told their new home will not have a basement.

Modern houses are built small, directly on top of concrete slabs, with no basement. This often presents a storage problem. Whereas our friends up north enjoy the extra room for storage or use the area as a second living room or game room, there is no such space in homes in Florida.

Where will they store their stuff? Usually, most people move to Florida to retire, so they downsize. Home foundations have to be built lower than the level that the ground will freeze to in the winter or else the home could shift when the ground thaws in the spring. Should I buy a house without basement? Older homes built with crawl spaces or rooms without basements supported slightly above the ground often have very cold floors.

This is why I wouldn't buy an older home that has no basement. That said, modern, slab-on-grade construction concrete poured at ground level has no basement, yet can function very well.

Do houses in Florida have heat? Most Florida homes do have a heating unit of some kind, particularly homes that are located in the top half of the state. Some older homes may still have furnaces powered by kerosene or natural gas while other Sarasota, FL Homes might even have furnaces powered by electricity.

How are houses built in Florida? Most of Florida's residential exteriors are built using one of two structural methods. One method is engineered frame wood construction and the other method is concrete block construction or CMU construction short for concrete masonry unit.

The exterior walls are constructed with 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 dimensional lumber. Why are all the houses in Florida one story? The Tropical Florida Weather Hot air rises, so keeping your home only one story can cut down on your cooling bill and help the whole house feel more comfortable. Single story homes can also fare better with hurricane-like conditions. Homes with two or more stories catch more wind.