KARL-HEINZ F. KOENIG

Hello Becky,
Finding a home with at least an eight foot tall ceiling in the basement is not difficult. You simply need to limit your search to homes that were built in 1978 or later. That was the year in which the Uniform Building Code was updated. Prior to 1978 standards were very low. For example, homes built in the 50's and 60's often had virtually no insulation. They often built with cinder blocks and faced them with brick. They were supposed to fill the cinder blocks with an insulation called vermiculite. When they poured this product down the chambers of the cinder blocks it would not flow properly, because it was a very light product and would bunch up on ledges of mortar. Inspectors had no instruments to see into the walls back in those days. If the home was stick framed with 2x4's they would often put 3/4" panels of insulation boards directly over the 2x4's, then face the wall with bricks. In both of these methods of construction, the homes simply collapse during even moderate earthquakes. This is why almost all public schools built during that era have been demolished and rebuilt. Getting back to your question, I have sold Bountiful and North Salt Lake homes for 35 years. Most homes in the area were built prior to 1978, however, if you look at homes in the upper east bench or in the newer west side you will find plenty of homes to suit your needs. If you want nine or ten foot tall basement ceilings, consider buying a home built on a steeper hillside slope, such as the upper bench of the valley. Builders make tall basements in those homes, sometimes even a sub basement, to bring the home closer to street level. In this way they avoid a steep downhill driveway, and as a bonus, you get to see the entire valley views and watch romantic sunsets over the Great Salt Lake. Please feel free to call me directly with any other questions at (801) 298-1234. I also live in Bountiful and am currently the Bountiful Lions Club President. I love living in Bountiful, because the crime rate is low and it is only ten minutes to Salt Lake or to the airport
Karl-Heinz F. Koenig
Century 21 At The Rockies
Realtor since 1973 - Tue Mar 3 2009, 10:20