1/2 Underground House

[twain]

Hey guys! Newbie here. Been kicking around the idea of a half underground house. I owned a four level front to back split, and always lived in the lower half, because it was always cooler. By 1/2 underground, I mean concrete block foundation chest high, all the way around, like a normal lower level of a split level home. I was thinking about something like 20'x40' with a shed style roof, but with a long roof over hang to pervent water coming in. Was think a metal roof. I need to draw up some pic's, but has anyone seen anything built like that? I was thinking the ease of heating and cooling, being half undergroud, and also the ease of building! Once you have the concrete block foundation in, you could frame the house with a 10' step ladder. Weird building has always been in my blood, but just never got a chance, to do what I love. I live in Ohio, and have been in the Logan Round House, that house and my great uncle have insipred me. If you don't know about the Logan Round House, Google it! It's a piece of art that was never finished. I've tried to buy it, but the late owners son won't sell it. What a shame, as it rots away. Here is my great uncle and his wife's work, tell me what you think.

http://sap.mit.edu/resources/portfolio/moscollection/

Thanks,
Twain

[germanbird]

There are a few people on the forums who have built similar houses (well, except for the shed roof part).  Check out the following build threads for a couple of examples:

http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=5690.0
http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=5386.0

I'm sure you can find more information on this forum (and elsewhere) by searching for earth-bermed and earth-sheltered homes.

Oh, and, welcome!

[jbos333]

Hi twain, I have been kicking around something similar. I am almost convinced that I'm going to go with a poured wall instead of block though. Not much price difference when you figure core fills, mortar, labor to lay block up, etc. I got two prices on poured walls 24x40 both were around 9000.00 with footer. Have you checked out the citydata "going underground in East Tennessee" thread? It has a shed roof but is pretty much completely backfilled except for one side. Not even any windows.
In my case, I would like to have 3-1/2 feet out of the ground opposite the walkout side, this will make egress windows easier for bedrooms in the "back". Maybe just a small window well to meet sill height requirement. And it will help my floor grade meet the "fall" for the proposed septic field.

[glenn kangiser]

Sounds like it could work with a well insulated roof to prevent loosing the ground advantage.

[twain]

Hi twain, I have been kicking around something similar. I am almost convinced that I'm going to go with a poured wall instead of block though. Not much price difference when you figure core fills, mortar, labor to lay block up, etc. I got two prices on poured walls 24x40 both were around 9000.00 with footer. Have you checked out the citydata "going underground in East Tennessee" thread? It has a shed roof but is pretty much completely backfilled except for one side. Not even any windows.
In my case, I would like to have 3-1/2 feet out of the ground opposite the walkout side, this will make egress windows easier for bedrooms in the "back". Maybe just a small window well to meet sill height requirement. And it will help my floor grade meet the "fall" for the proposed septic field.

Sounds like we have the same idea, thanks for the poured run down. Do you have a link to that thread?
Thanks,
Twain

[jbos333]

http://www.city-data.com/forum/tennessee/359683-going-off-grid-east-tennessee.html

It was Going off-grid not underground...sorry

[twain]

Thanks for the thread! Poor guy should have read up on roofing skills, lol! But, what a great piece of property they have, it turned out nice.   

[jbos333]

Yeah, I think it turned out great. The couple things I would change right off are egress windows in the back rooms, and I would try to incorporate a covered porch area under the same roof pitch, but trying to keep in mind the winter sun angle for solar gain. And I will be hooked up to the power grid.

[glenn kangiser]

I assume you have read over our thread which is built from "The $50 and up underground house" book. 

Not conventional though.  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=151.0

We are off grid as well.