How come houses in Las Vegas don't have basements?

The number-one reason is caliche (pronounced "kuhLEEchee").

Caliche is a rock-like material that occurs in deserts and semi-arid areas when groundwater that’s rich in calcium carbonate (lime) rises up through the soil via capillary action and evaporates, depositing an impermeable layer beneath the surface that’s as tough as concrete. These deposits are erratic in terms of thickness, hardness, and extent, which makes interference with below-grade construction difficult to predict. Even known deposits create major headaches, due to problems in their removal -- everything from a pick and shovel for thin layers and a jackhammer for medium-thick layers to D6-7 Caterpillars for deep layers and explosives for planting large palm trees.

It’s possible to have a soil test performed prior to digging foundations for houses, which is advisable if you're considering building a basement, because if caliche is discovered, you could be looking at a sizable bill if you want to dig down through it. Indeed, the very word "caliche" has been known to strike terror into the hearts of home builders and jack up a contractor's bill by tens of thousands.

Otherwise, according to the City of Las Vegas Building & Safety Department, there are no impediments in the form of planning codes or building regulations that prohibit basements, but they did offer a couple other explanations as to why they're unusual in Las Vegas.

The issue of flash-flooding is one. Although this is a very dry city for much of the year, dramatic thunderstorms do occur, particularly between July and September. Due to the steep mountainous terrain surrounding the valley and the fact that the ground is so dry for much of the year, there’s a problem with surface runoff leading to flash floods. If your home is on the floodplain, as many are, a basement can turn into a huge liability when floodwaters pass by.

The second, and perhaps most widely applicable answer to your question, is not so much a practical consideration as simply an issue of custom. Although our Building Department source confirmed that he personally knows of several houses in the area that do have basements, it’s just not the established style in Las Vegas, where homes have traditionally been based more on the single- or two-story "ranch" model.

We suspect, coming full circle, that that's because of the caliche.

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Dave Jul-08-2017

On the flip side...

I kinda thought the answer was more or less the opposite of the reason why there ARE basements in other parts of the country.

Namely, that the foundation must be set a certain depth below the winter frost line. Once you start to dig, it doesn't cost much more to go deeper to make a basement. 

A frost line is not an issue and places like Las Vegas…

Deke Castleman Jul-08-2017

better question?

This comment was emailed directly to us:

A different way to phrase this question [and possibly better], is why do so many areas of the U.S. build homes [even small homes] WITH basements, which are relatively expensive to build compared with just building an additional vertical level up [if additional space is needed]? Or in other words, why do so many parts of the country not build their homes with the relatively-inexpensive “slab-on-grade” method used so much in Vegas [and also Phoenix, and many cities in the Southwest]?

This link will answer some of those questions:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basement

Excerpts:

"However, basements are considered standard on all but the smallest new buildings in many places with temperate continental climates such as the American Midwest and the Canadian Prairies where a concrete foundation below the frost line is needed in any case, to prevent a building from shifting during the freeze-thaw cycle."

Deke Castleman Jul-08-2017

comment continued

"In colder climates, the foundation must be below the frost line. Unless constructed in very cold climates, the frost line is not so deep as to justify an entire level below the ground, although it is usually deep enough that a basement is the assumed standard."

Deke Castleman Jul-08-2017

timely explanation

And here's another comment emailed to us, probably from a cell phone, about basements: 

"Huge storms and power outages here: No phone, Net, or TV for over 24 hours for me, much worse elsewhere in the area.   Anyway... Here's another reason there are basements in other parts of the country: Basements offer places of safety during storms and tornadoes! They also provide significant storage, a place for a furnace, water heater, laundry, etc. I love a basement, but understand construction constraints!

Question of the Day - 08 July 2017

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