photos from toronto flood

Feathers · July 17, 2013, 01:50:58 AM

I still find the whole basement concept quite alien (despite all the american TV I've consumed over the years).

We were workning with some Canadian guys a few years ago and the topic of houses came up and while we were surprised at some of the basement conversation, they were absolutely amazed when they realised that we didn't have any at all.

Bromptonboy · July 17, 2013, 02:38:58 AM

:) Interesting - I didn't realize they are uncommon in the UK.

billybob476 · July 17, 2013, 04:15:51 AM

Yeah I was sure you guys had them. My understanding is that we have basements since we have to dig our foundations below the frost line in the winter otherwise the constant freezing/thawing of the ground underneath will destroy the foundation if it were sitting above.

Bromptonboy · July 17, 2013, 07:20:50 AM

I know in my sister's neck of the woods (Los Angeles) - basements are no where to be found.

Feathers · July 18, 2013, 04:02:36 AM

Over here you very occasionally see houses having their foundations dug out and basements installed (by occasionally, I mean I've seen it once, in a house I used to walk past on the way to work) and I guess some of the larger/pricier places around must have them but the houses owned by the vast majority of us ordinary people(!) in most of the country don't

All the stately homes I've ever visited had basements, of course, where else do you put the servants and the kitchens! :D

Rico · July 18, 2013, 05:27:25 AM

Basements are awesome! It gives the house a much more solid foundation. Shelter during bad storms. Not to mention the added space for all your goodies!

billybob476 · July 18, 2013, 09:21:05 AM

Quote from: Rico on July 18, 2013, 05:27:25 AM
Basements are awesome! It gives the house a much more solid foundation. Shelter during bad storms. Not to mention the added space for all your goodies!

and a cool place to sleep on those really, really hot days! My basement is where I game and work out.

Bromptonboy · July 18, 2013, 09:37:20 AM

Right about a cool place! Our basement is like a refrigerator these days - compared to the 100F temps outside today.

Feathers · July 19, 2013, 01:18:35 AM

In the current 32 degree (celcius!) humid temperatures a basement would be a marvelous place to have. Two of our kids sleep in the loft conversion and the heat is just overwhelming. (Yes I know it's cooler than parts of the US but I suspect the humidity is much higher and our housing stock just isn't built to cope with temperature extremes in either direction.)

Bromptonboy · July 19, 2013, 04:29:40 AM

The area I live - Philadelphia - has terrible humidity. Out west it gets much hotter, but the dry air generally makes it more manageable. I was cycling home from work yesterday, and the thermostat on my trip computer hit 106F - and the humidity was high. Very unpleasant.
You are right that generally our housing is built to accommodate - with most new homes coming with central air conditioning, etc.
Summers like this make me want to move to Canada..

billybob476 · July 19, 2013, 05:38:30 AM

Don't bother, it's hot and humid here too! I'm only an 8 hour drive northwest from Philly.

Bromptonboy · July 19, 2013, 06:24:59 AM

I am thinking Labrador... :)