I'm planning to build a 15 x 16 room addition to improve my main living space. The city requires a 48-inch dig for the foundation code. I'm considering whether to fully dig out the basement to extend our current small basement as well. This extra space could be turned into a guest room and bathroom, making it a valuable addition. Has anyone gone through a similar experience with digging out for an addition?
4 Answers
I'd say go for it, unless the costs are way too high. The benefits will likely outweigh the expenses!
You really should consider the dig. It's risky to build on backfill and could compromise your foundation that wasn't designed for heavy loads.
I definitely think it's worth doing the extra digging! Even if you just use it for storage or a den/man cave, having that extra space is great. Remember though, if you're planning to make it a bedroom, there are additional codes for egress windows that can make things pricier. But hey, you could always dig it out now and finish things later if you need to save some cash.
Looking back, I really wish we had dug out our basement when we added ours. When you think about the costs spread over 30+ years and the value of an extra room, it just makes sense. By the way, what's the price difference you're looking at?