The word “basement” is used for different types of rooms at the base of a building. Here’s a few different definitions:
Daylight Basement
This style of basement is commonly seen in houses that were built on a slope which results in the ground being at different levels on either side of the building. These type of basements can be seen throughout the UK in both bungalows and two-storey houses, including their basement area as an additional floor located underneath.
As you would suspect from the name of this basement, the slope allows for the installation of windows to bring in natural sunlight. This factor often makes them a perfect solution for the installation of an additional bedroom or lounge area.
Look-Out Basement
The look-out basement is more commonly seen in the United States. If the slope is not steep enough to host a daylight basement, most home-owners compromise with this style of basement. As the name indicates, the idea behind the look-out basement is that the slope provides the opportunity to install a window in the visible area below the entrance to your property (doors are raised on a staircase in a townhouse style – referred to as a split-entry home).
This style of basement is commonly used for storage or as a laundry area, although some homeowners do manage to install a bedroom or lounge area, despite the reduced sunlight exposure.
Walk-Up Basement
This term refers to any style of basement to which access is granted via an exterior stairwell entrance. You may be familiar with the styled designs of angled basement doors or bulkhead doors which are used for security and to prevent the stairwell flooding.
Underground Cellar
You may well have come across a wine cellar, which is just one possible style of underground cellar. Defined as “a below ground level room often designed for the storage of coal and beverages”, many prefer this traditional basement style when looking to store barrels of beer or bottles of wine.
Underground Crawl Space
The name speaks for itself. This style of basement refers to a below ground level area in which the average height homeowner is unable to stand. Starting from as low as 30cm in height, these crawl spaces often provide access to pipes and other elements of a house’s substructure, as well as offering benefits such as additional storage space.
Due to the height restriction on these basements, they are unlikely to provide additional accommodation areas for your property.
Check out our basement waterproofing info for details on how to ensure your basement / cellar is protected.
