According to wikipedia A basement or cellar is one or more floors of a building that are either completely or partially below the ground floor. Basements are generally used as a utility space for a building where such items as the boiler, water heater, breaker panel or fuse box, car park, and air-conditioning system are located; so also are amenities such as the electrical distribution system, and cable television distribution point. However, in cities with high property prices such as London, basements are often fitted out to a high standard and used as living space.

So as beautiful and Useful as they can be, I would like to know why most Nigerian homes do not have basements like the ones abroad.

* Is it very expensive?

* Doesn't our terrain or building codes/patterns support it?

* Is it that our architects do not suggest it or clients just don't just want it.

* What are the pros and cons with respect to Geographical region?

Please I would like everyone to air their views so we can learn from each other.

tkovie2002:
According to wikipedia A basement or cellar is one or more floors of a building that are either completely or partially below the ground floor. Basements are generally used as a utility space for a building where such items as the boiler, water heater, breaker panel or fuse box, car park, and air-conditioning system are located; so also are amenities such as the electrical distribution system, and cable television distribution point. However, in cities with high property prices such as London, basements are often fitted out to a high standard and used as living space.

So as beautiful and Useful as they can be, I would like to know why most Nigerian homes do not have basements like the ones abroad.

* Is it very expensive?

* Doesn't our terrain or building codes/patterns support it?

* Is it that our architects do not suggest it or clients just don't just want it.

* What are the pros and cons with respect to Geographical region?

Please I would like everyone to air their views so we can learn from each other.

the idea of the basement came about in cold climates where the foundation would need to be deep enough to go below the freezing line, with time, people decided to make it big enough to serve as a livable place. in Nigeria, we don't have snow and the cost implication would be enormous besides basements are often a source of trouble due to development of algae, over flooding etc.there's nothing special about living underground.

i think because of our weather here... and also the cost

Our weather does not encourage it...heat go kill u
No steady NEPA supply
It is expensive
U can't let it out

A typical Nigerian will call it an underground house....

hmm our soil, i guess

they have deep soils easily dug out.

haven't you guys noticed how easy it is to bury someone in 30 minutes with a shovel.?

u no fit try am for hia..

In Nigeria majority of us cannot afford certified building engineers with years of experience.

So building basement with our mason men is like paying for your death with your hard-earned money.

K

edlion57:
H

for House na


Expecting ur long episode

As has been mentioned already, our climate makes it a non essential. However I've lived in a house with a basement, that was in the noughties, as a kid

I'll love a house with a basement. I think the maintenance of such luxury must be the first disadvantage - especially with epileptic electricity...

Basement for Nigeria that some houses barely have parking space or space to even spread cloth

twinskenny:
i think because of our weather here... and also the cost

My friend here summarized it. One big bottle water for him.

Another thing would be the cost. In foreign countries, the deckig consists mainly of wood, while here we use cement. Having a basement means additional money for ground floor 'decking'

have seen houses with basements in Nigeria though.

unless you wan kill person....the building wey de above ground for naija never see light sef na basement wey de underground you de talk. na suffocation go just finish anyone wey de live there

Who told you Nigerian homes don't have basements? Where do you reside? In Calabar, along mile 8, there's an area where 30% of the houses have basements. It also depends on the topography of the area. Basements are mostly built where there are slopes.

K

Underground parking is also a great feature for houses in the cities.

I have always wondered too

AJA ILE(UNDERGROUND RITUALIST DENS) ALERT!!! before you know it nigerians will start using it for all sorts of vices just as some europeans use it for evil purposes.some houses have it here too though.

.

When many houses don't even have foundation

AnonyNymous:
Another thing would be the cost. In foreign countries, the deckig consists mainly of wood, while here we use cement. Having a basement means additional money for ground floor 'decking'

LIEnus!

I don't think living in laterite soil will be comfortable.

Because we lack credible engineers and it would serve as a place for servicing several ekaettes

Probably because of the danger of flooding. It's also not a traditionally recognised aspect of building houses. It probably developed in the west because of harsh weather/snow

Who u wan see from basement.. Basement ni baseball kor