A Michigan basement is not a basement for entertaining. This kind of basement is a general term for an unfinished, often damp, "dug-out" basement with an earthen or cement floor. This type of basement is regarded as one step up from a crawl space. Common in older homes built with low foundations, a Michigan basement typically serves as a space for keeping the washer and dryer or for storing of non-perishable goods.
A Michigan basement typically has an earthen floor and low ceilings. According to the official State of Michigan website glossary, a Michigan basement is often constructed from a crawl space. The cement walls are usually set back 2 to 4 feet from the existing crawl space foundation walls. Because this type of basement is built into an in-ground foundation, space is usually limited, making it a difficult area to stand up in.
Michigan basements are often damp because of the earthen floors. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns against increased radon levels in earthen basements like the Michigan basement. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water.
A Michigan basement can be transformed into a wine cellar if the homeowner does not mind the low ceilings and limited space. The Michigan basement would need to be humidified at all times to keep wine and other liquors at the right temperatures and humidity.
Because the basement is set in the earth, Michigan basements are prone to flooding. Homes may suffer flood damage from common rainstorms to torrential downpours. Flooding assistance, or help refinishing or waterproofing a Michigan basement, may be needed if the home is located in a flood plain. According to FEMA, purchasing sump pumps and battery backup sump pump systems helps keep water out of the basement in flooding season.
A crawl space transformed into a Michigan basement can become a place for install the home's electrical circuit box, water heater and furnace. The space can also act as a storage area for non-perishable canned goods or a makeshift laundry room with a washer and dryer.
Because air pressure in a home is typically lower than pressure in the soil around your home's foundation, the home can act like a vacuum, drawing radon in through foundation cracks and other openings. The EPA recommends covering an earthen floor with a high-density plastic sheet in which in a vent-pipe and fan are used to draw the radon from under the sheet and blow it to the outdoors to rid the house of radon.
- Photo Credit building a basement image by Kostyantyn Ivanyshen from Fotolia.com
The Average Cost of Waterproofing a Basement
Determining the cost to waterproof a basement can be a tricky process. A number of aspects need to be evaluated to learn...
The Average Cost of a Basement
Adding a basement to a new home can create space for rooms or a drive-under garage. A basement adds value to virtually...
What Is Considered a Finished Basement?
Basements are an important part of many American homes. People who finish their basements can recoup approximately 75 percent of the cost...
How to Waterproof an Old Basement
Snow and rain saturate the soil around the foundation of your house, and the water can flow into your basement through cracks...
What Is a Non-Egress Basement?
An egress from a basement can be either a walk-out door or a window. A basement without an egress is a basement...
Ideas for Michigan Basements
"Michigan basement" refers to a primitive space with simple cement or cinder block walls about 5 to 7 feet high, and a...
Rules for Home Daycare in Basements
Home-run childcare businesses are not nationally regulated. Each state has its own regulatory agency which sets rules, laws and guidelines for establishing...