Hi,

We are in the research phase of our new home.

• We currently own property on the top of a small ridge (about 75 feet above the folks below) with an older, very small home there now.
• The public sewer pipe in the street is more than 30 feet below ground.
• We would like to build a three story home, but with two floor underground.
• We would like both floors underground to have a separate walk-out to good size patio and stairs to reach normal ground level.
• We will use dual drain systems on both inside and outside of the foundation connected to several internal sump pumps with battery backup and outside generator.
• We would also like to have an empty elevator shaft (1-2 person) for later use - if needed.

Anyone have positive and or negative thoughts about this plan.
We are most interested in thought about the 2 floors underground.
Thanks for ANY thoughts
Jim

Have you contacted an architect? I was attracted to this question because I've been interested in semi-undreground homes for a while. I've sort of drawn up in my mind a similar situation to what you describe.

I think you will need to go through an architect to properly design this for you. But from what I've researched it's a viable alternative and will provide energy efficiency in heating and cooling because of the insulating capabilities of the ground around it

Hi Scott,
Thanks for the response.
No we do not have architect yet.
We are hoping to find others interested in this type of home and gain incite to issues we have not thought of yet.
Hopefully other folks - professional or not - will offer thought too.
Jim

If you Google building underground homes, you will find a lot of references that can help.