Going underground

[1930]

I’m curious why more people don’t build underground?
We are considering a root cellar for my wife’s canning.
We are in FL where it is dry, so dry that very little survives here with the exception of king leaf pines and sand oaks.
Very, very little rainfall throughout the year.
Why don’t we hear about more homes being built underground?
Wastewater would be a challenge but other than that?
Can anyone suggest good reference material?

 

[Eagle1]

I don't know your area but in many places around FL the ground water level is less than 4' deep. I know of places that if you dig foot down, it will fill with water. I would want to be sure that the ground water stays well below any level I want to build to during rain events.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I think underground construction is a great idea, but it depends on location. I looked into it when I built my place 45 years ago but most of my acreage sits on solid rock. The excavation costs would have been out of the question.

 

[IXLR8]

From what I have read, the sandy soil makes it prohibitively expensive. Not that it can't be done, but the excavation costs would be huge as you would need to dig a hole much larger than your foundation to keep the sand from running back into he hole before the foundation is complete. I have the same issue here on the sandy eastern shore of VA.

 

[RayIN]

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Below grade commodes are common, they have a macerator pump to lift sewage to the level of the city sewer or a septic tank.

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[caver]

You can always buy an old ICBM silo when they come on the market.

 

[4570Man]

The short and most obvious answer is cost. Just digging a hole is expensive but digging through rock, trucking away the excavated material, pumps to fix flooding and ventilation further drive up the price. The walls will need to be stronger than an above ground structure and you’ll need pump trucks to pour concrete which continues driving up the price. You’d probably need fire suppression since escaping would be limited.

 

[5030]

One of my friends built his home partially buried in a hillside and while it's nice, it always feels damp to me.

 

[grsthegreat]

Back in the late 1980’s i worked on a large cattle ranch in montana. One particular hot, humid summer day the foreman suggested we eat lunch in the root cellar. It was probably 20-30° cooler down there. They had everyone sit on boxes stored there among the root vegetables. I asked…whats in the boxes


Trenching dynamite

 

[CalG]

One very important aspect is ventilation!

IIRC a "comfortable minimum air turnover" is several complete exchanges PER HOUR. Typical houses BREATHE, and if they don't (super insulated, and underground etc) the air and spaces are just not comfortable. We sweat a lot!

Cooking, plants, pets, hygiene....it all adds up.

I keep the upstairs window open all winter!

 

[5030]

Not only that but a super tight home retains smells. My wife always chides me about that when I pass gas in the bedroom at night....

The advantage to an earthen home is the insulation factor. Dirt makes an excellent insulator. In the winter, I stack straw bales around the foundation of this old shack to cut down on heat loss, always have. When we had our centure home completely redone some tears back, I had the contractor install attic roof vents and gable vents as well and the north gable vent has a solar powered fan it it.

 

[Jstpssng]

There was a TBN member a while back who lived on an underground home downstate from me. I always wanted to see his place but never made it down.
Aside from disadvantages mentioned above, you also need to ensure they are watertight or they will always be damp.
Most houses up here are built on full foundations but until recently they generally have been a place to keep the furnace, water pump, firewood and maybe washer/dryer.

 

[5030]

I would assume that any earthen home would have damp issues no matter what. Having said that, I suspect an earthen roof would be better than shingles or even metal and you could mow it as well.

My freind's home is surrounded on 3 sides with earth (built into a bank), but has a shingled roof and like I stated, everytime I've visited it, it always feels damp to me, plus it has a damp smell to my nose. I believe the earth side is poured concrete but not sure and never inquired either. I do know his heat and cooling bill is quite reasonable.

 

[ultrarunner]

Several of the relatives have an entire story underground or 3/4 with one side daylight.

They spent time carefully water proofing with thick high cement concrete… tar, moisture barrier, extensive drain network etc… plus light wells… very nice space and nearly ideal year round.

Others were not able due to radon concerns…

 

[Tpondel]

This underground safe room is waterproof and equipped with all the comforts of home.
Below grade commodes are common, they have a macerator pump to lift sewage to the level of the city sewer or a septic tank.

Underground Bunker

Our underground bunkers are customizable living quarters encased in reliable steel. Order an underground shelter for home or work designed to your exact needs, and comfort. These survival and prepping shelters are customized to your needs. Get a quote now.

ussaferoom.com

Don't faint when you look up the price.

If you only want an underground shelter, this waterproof one-piece fiberglass unit is much less money.

Shelters

www.refugeshelters.com

Love the article on that site …. Safe Room as wedding gift is gaining in popularity.

 

[chim]

Water infiltration and radon in our area. Many people around here have issues with these two items in their basements. We're on a hill and fortunately have not had moisture problems. I did need to install a radon system.

 

[MossRoad]

I’m curious why more people don’t build underground?
We are considering a root cellar for my wife’s canning.
We are in FL where it is dry, so dry that very little survives here with the exception of king leaf pines and sand oaks.
Very, very little rainfall throughout the year.
Why don’t we hear about more homes being built underground?
Wastewater would be a challenge but other than that?
Can anyone suggest good reference material?

The main reason people don't build underground is lack of sunlight.

For a while back in the 80's underground houses were becoming more popular. However, it soon died out.

South-facing hills were the most popular building sites. So at least you'd have one wall for windows. There's also issues with fire egress and building codes that have to be taken into consideration.

 

[RBsingl]

There is a company near me that builds what they call "cave homes" in the sides of hills and I can see the attraction given tornadoes/hail/severe storms along with the excellent insulation. Sort of a throwback to the original "Little House on the Prairie" series

But Florida would be one of the last places I would think of for in ground housing given the issue of groundwater and the relative closeness to the coast throughout most of the state. Even in areas where the aquifer has been excessively pumped down (i.e. Miami area), salt water infiltration has replaced it keeping the level near historic standard even though the water is no longer useful for human or industrial use and in many areas of the state the levels will be slowly increasing as the offshore water level rises. In some areas in-ground housing would be great but not so great in others.

Rodger

 

[HawkinsHollow]

As a younger man I looked into building an underground home. Decided it was not a viable option for many of the same reasons given above. I still think it would be pretty cool if one had the resources and location to do it well.

 

[JJT]

Financing will be an issue, banks don't finance unconventional homes. Even 30 years ago I had to shop around to find a bank that would finance an owner built timber frame home.

Any appraiser will tell you above ground living space is worth more than below grade space.

Building below grade is expensive, dark and damp. For years I had a wood shop in my basement, and had to run a dehumidifier in the summer to keep the moisture at bay. Building a detached above ground shop was an expense I don't regret.