Benefits to Building Basem*nts in AZ (Basem*nt Design Phoenix) (2024)

FAQs

Benefits to Building Basem*nts in AZ (Basem*nt Design Phoenix)? ›

As everyone knows, heat rises, so by eliminating the second story and opting for a basem*nt instead, ones electricity bill would be substantially lower. In addition, another advantages to building basem*nts in Arizona is that basem*nts offer built-in privacy that second-story homes lack.

There's three main reasons: regulations, soil and cost. On the East Coast and across the Midwest, builders have to lay foundations 48 or even 72 inches below the surface so the foundation doesn't crack as the ground freezes in the winter then thaws in the spring.

That may be a sizable number considering the cost: about $80,000 to $100,000 on top of the sticker price for a typically sized basem*nt, which come fully finished and with windows.

Arizona does have basem*nts. However, in the Sonora desert where 60% of Arizonans reside basem*nts are rare because of the expense. Most residential homes are built on concrete slabs rather than excavated foundations.

If it's a brand-new build, building a basem*nt can be less expensive than building a second story, depending on the specific location and other factors.

Homeowners in cold states construct basem*nts to protect their plumbing systems and fixtures, especially pipes, from cracking due to frost exposure. However, the risk of pipes freezing and bursting is incredibly slim in California's hot and warm climate.

In a dry, hot climate like ours, the materials our homes are made from can mean the difference between indoor air that's a comfortable and air that feels too warm. The reason concrete is so popular in Arizona is that it naturally conducts heat, and keeps it out of our living spaces.

Overall the most expensive parts of finishing your basem*nt are plumbing, flooring, waterproofing and egress window installation.

A finished basem*nt can increase your home's market value and appraisal value so you can sell your house for more. So, while square footage may not always count, a finished basem*nt increases home value regardless.

How much does a 2,000 square foot home in Arizona cost to construct? Building a 2,000 square foot home in Arizona can cost around $300,000 to $400,000 on average. The total expense depends on various factors such as location, materials used, labor costs, and additional features.

Are basem*nts included in square footage in Arizona? ›

Generally, appraisers and listing agents don't count a basem*nt toward the overall square footage of a home.

Earthquake prone areas are not likely to have new homes with basem*nts for they require much more building than a slab home. The West coast is mostly earth quake areas. At times, the rock below a home makes putting in a basem*nt too costly.

It's cheaper to build one story and spread things out horizontally, and historically land was plentiful and cheap in Arizona.

The main types of foundations are slab-on-grade, which is the most common and least expensive; a crawl space foundation that has short walls, pier and beam, or a full basem*nt foundation with 8'-10' walls for living or storage.

Finishing a basem*nt can be a good investment. According to cost versus value surveys conducted annually by Remodeling magazine, nationally, the average return on investment for a basem*nt project is around 75 cents on the dollar, and about 86% of the total cost spent in the renovation when it's time to sell.

Building up is always the least expensive option for increasing your home's square-footage because it requires less material and labor. For example, if you have 1,000 sq. feet on the main level and want to add 1,000 sq. feet as a second floor, all you have to do is add more wood and framing labor.

In some parts of the state the water table is too near the surface of the ground, making leaking and flooding an issue. In other areas the bedrock is too near the surface, making digging a basem*nt difficult and costly.

But that's not a plausible option for many people in southwest Missouri. The geologic makeup of the area here means many homes across this corner of the state don't allow for basem*nts due to unfavorable soil conditions below the surface.

Damp Soil. 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.

Despite a population boom, there has been little motivation for developers to reach higher into the sky, considering land is relatively affordable and plentiful. Phoenix's land area, at 518 square miles, is larger than that of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.