Basement Construction Process

Excavation

• Before basement construction begins, the property needs to be excavated to create a hole in the ground. A structural engineer is called in who determines how deep the hole can go by considering the soil type, frost line and depth at which they find water. Excavation must take place below the frost line and above the water line to prevent chronic flooding in the basement.

Concrete Flooring

• A basement is made of concrete, which is a mixture of water, cement sand and gravel. The ratio for pouring the concrete is 6 gallons of water for 1 cubic foot of cement. According to the University of Missouri Extension, the flooring is 4 inches thick. The square footage of the basement depends on the size of the home. The National Association of Home Builders reports that the average size of a home will be 2,152 square feet in 2015, which is 10 percent lower than in 2010.

Walls

• While concrete is strong and durable, it does not have much tension or bending capabilities. Overtime, concrete can begin to crack because of the pressure of the soil, which can cause leaks and other problems in the basement. The walls need to be reinforced with steel to provide additional strength and dexterity. The placement and amount of steel depends on the size of a basement. Basement walls need to be at least 8 feet high to double as living spaces.

Insulation

• While some homeowners seek to turn their basements into living spaces, others will want to use it for a storage area. In any case, insulating the basement may be necessary to ensure the area remains comfortable. During construction, workers apply polystyrene foam to the exterior of the walls. The advantages of insulating a wall include energy cost savings and provide an additional layer of protection from moisture intrusion, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, on its Energy Saver website.