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blondie091 · Jan 14, 2008, 06:02 AM

I'm in the process of planning my construction of a cottage home, small, maybe 750 sq feet and I'm not all too interested in having a basement. What are the other options I wonder, a slab (?) or something else maybe ?

rtw_travel · Jan 14, 2008, 10:29 AM

It depends on what your local building inspector will allow.

A foundation is mandatory... most houses will have poured walls... and pouring a slab floor is not that much more $ if you're already going to have the walls. And then if you're going to pour a slab floor, then you might as well excavate a bit... and before you know it, you have a basement.

But if you really don't want a basement then you could build the whole thing on a number of sonotubes. It will look somewhat like a stilt house, but it is very common to see this style of construction in cottages. Careful in winter: critters will be looking for a way into the house. Also be careful of ventilation of the crawlspace- may people would be tempted to cover the sides of the house forming an enclosed crawlsapce. This makes the crawlspace cool in the summer which will lead to condensation under the house.

ballengerb1 · Jan 14, 2008, 11:20 AM

Where are you planning to build? Can you tell us about the site and the soil type?

blondie091 · Jan 14, 2008, 02:29 PM

Thanks for your replies so far, I sure appreciate the interest in my post.
I do hope I am posting correctly as this is my very first post, I am a newbie.
I should have explained my intentions a bit better "
I want to build a year round cottage style home, rather upscale with high ceilings, skylights, fireplace, and lots of windows, small and cozy.
I have just purchased an acre of land, basically flat with a slight incline, forested with mostly young pine trees, excellent drainage. I am in Nova Scotia, Canada in the Northeast.
The soil is sand / gravel with a trace of clay. I would like to have hardwood floors with in floor heating. 1 floor with an upstairs loft possibly, ( does that make it 2 floors?).
Small, maybe 700 sq feet. I have had mixed opinions on slabs and wonder if it's more economical to build this way? The home / cottage will be my retirement home and will house only 1, ME.
If it isn't necessary to have a basement I don't think I want one.
Thank you in advance for any suggestions you may have.

ballengerb1 · Jan 14, 2008, 03:11 PM

Blondie, so much of this is up to your personal choice. I always want a basement simply to get all the water heater, furnace, laundry out of the living space. However if you are living alone you may be satified with 700 s/f minus the utilities. You say you mat retire here so maybe resale isn't a consideration for you but someone, someday will eventually buy the house and a basement is a selling item. RTW mentioned up front that the building department may have a lot to say about what foundations are allowed. I would not consider building on stilts if you want infloor heat. You mentioned "high ceilings, skylights, fireplace, and lots of windows, " and Nova scotia so heating will be an issue. All of your amenitees that you mentioned rob heat so buy the best insulated versions you can get. If you want a wood burning fireplace I'd suggest a Heatilator or any really good prefab heat recirculating fireplace.