Any home builders here?

[Charger4404spd]

I am considering building a house next year with my dream garage to come a bit later. The land I will be building on is flat, so I was wondering, what are the pro/cons to building on a slab? Would a crawl space be better?
Any moisture problems with a slab?

ANy and all comments welcome. The house will be 1 level with an attached 2 car garage, somewhere between 1700 and 2000 sq ft.



Steve

[derailed]

I think if I were building a new house i would definitly go with a full basement. Down the road you can finish part of it off if you want and you will have the extra storage space which fills up fast. Its alot easier as far as plumbing and wiring go to.

[Charger4404spd]

Well like I said, the land is flat, and the house will have a big garage attached, plus later, I will build my 6 bay dream garage

[ChargerAndy]

       It would help to know what part of the country you live in but generally a full basement is the cheapest square footage of living space when building a house. Also if you build on a slab all your plumbing, electric, and heating is locked into locations by the slab. With a basement there is oportunity to change or trouble-shoot problems easily. A basement also offers a place for the laundry, furnace and oil tank,better than a furnace taking space on the first floor and a tank buried under ground. I've been a builder for 20 years. I live in the North East. My house is 1/3 slab, 1/3 crawl space, and 1/3 full basement. I so wish I had all full basement but the house was the best I could afford at the time.
       If the house on a slab ends up costing you $100 a square foot for arguements sake, then a house with a full basement with potentially twice the square footage will cost you substantially less per square foot. Houses on a slab are rare around here, Ive been told that Florida and California and some other areas are big on building on slabs I guess because it's cheaper initially to get moved in on the 1st floor. I vote for the full basement....... just my 2 cents, Andy

[NHCharger]

I've been a builder for 20 years. Can't build a house up here in New Hampshire on a slab because of frost. I see your from Tennessee. I don't know what the requirements are in your area regarding just a slab versus a foundation.
As far as costs right now my 8' foundation walls are running $44./LF, you add framing a floor system on top of that and your looking at 15k to add a full basement, not counting the site work to dig and backfill. So figure $9.00/sf to add a basement that will double the amount of room you will have. Seems like a good idea to me.         
ChargerAndy has already stated all the other pluses of a full basement. Having all your utilities in the basement gives you more living space upstairs.
One down side of a flat lot. What is the seasonal high water table? If you have a high water table you will need an exterior foundation drain with a daylight outlet to keep your basement dry.

[Charger4404spd]

Thanks guys. Yes I do realize a basement is the way to go. Like I said though, the field is very flat. I do have a choice though. I can build in front of my Dad where the field is sloped and a basement would work fine. However, the flat field behind him has a gorgeous view of the Smoky Mountains. Seems like the crawl space is the way to go.

[6pkrunner]

While a slab is more economical initially, you have little to no storage space, and it will sell as well as a dead racoon if you ever decide to market it in the future. There are three in my subdivision that were all built around the same time (veery early 80s) and each one of them has been on the market over the last 20 years or so. They are real bears to sell. Two didn't sell for well over 4 years and when they did, they went at about 2/3s the initial asking price, which as fair for a full basement house. Storage and future expansion are the dreamworlds of basements and is a real kicker when not there.

[Darkness]

Personally, I would have at least a small basement. A craw space is okay but, what about when you get older or what if you fall and hurt your back and that crawl space isn't so convient so more. Also, I would have a basement due to the fact of your location. I mean you never know if you're going to have a tornado come through or not. Just also food for thought as well.

[diego-ted]

No basements in Cali or New Mex.  I have built 100s of homes.   

[dkn1997]

I just don't get how having a flat piece of property  has anything to do with getting a basement or not.

speaking as someone who owns a slab house in the northeast, I would not do it again.  I really wish I had gone with the basement, but it was an existing home and all we could afford at the time.  now houses here average 450k, so I won't be moving anytime soon.  at least if I had a crawlspace, I could have added a basement.  not easily, but possible.

[ChargerAndy]

I just don't get how having a flat piece of property   has anything to do with getting a basement or not.

I think maybe if he were building on a slope he would be able to work out a garage door to the basement which as we all know would be very cherry..... but I'm just guessing.  Regardless of anything, I would still go for the full basement on the flatland with the view...... and I bet he will regret it if he doesn't. good luck!    Andy