Quote Originally Posted by tpa View Post
PS: A basement can be a blessing because it can allow easy access to the underside of the floors which you can insulate. It also keeps the wine and beer cool in the summer.
I fully agree a basement can be a nice addtion to a home. My basement isnt finished out so it isnt, as many people refer to them as, my man cave. I hate that reference. What I do use my basement for is fermentation. In spring 5 crocks holding 5 gallons of cabbage are turned to 60+ quarts of saurkraut and in the fall the same crocks make my Kim Chi with Chinese cabbage. In between I brew the occasional ale. My basement is insulated to the floor above but even with that it stayed below freezing this year. I spent one week without water due to freezing and then repaire the busted pipes after the thaw. It is easier in a basement than a crawl space. This winter i even had to put a heater in front of my ale to get it to ferment at a proper 65 degrees F. All is well and the beer taste great. Such is the trials of owning a home over 100 years old. I know that is quite young compared to some of the homes in the UK>