Ask Mr. Sun:

Why don’t Las Vegas homes have basements?

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Ask Mr. Sun

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Dear Mr. Sun, How come Las Vegas homes don’t have basements, yet they all have pools? I’ve heard it was because of the hard caliche layer, but that doesn’t stop anyone from digging out a swimming pool. — Russ Morgan

Caliche — the layer of sedimentary rock that loves to mock anyone wielding a shovel in Las Vegas — is the reason basements are a rarity here.

Basements require a lot more excavation than your typical pool, according to experts. They are, after all, part of a home’s foundation.

“With the cost to dig the rock for a basement, it would be less expensive to buy the additional land and expand the home to provide that square footage,” said Dana Wood of Trenching Services Inc., which digs all over the West.

As usual, it comes down to money — price per square foot, in this case.

According to the late, great Las Vegas historian Hal Rothman, the absence of basements in Las Vegas — and their accompanying storage space — made the three-car garage a coveted status symbol.

Questions for Mr. Sun should be sent to page8@lasvegassun.com.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By tmcbrayer

4/28/09 at 8 a.m.

Suggest removal

Caliche is but one of the reasons, as many areas of the valley do not have caliche and actually have clay (expansive soils - North Las Vegas area for example). The bigger reason deals with the frost depth being so shallow (12" to 18") that a deeper foundation system is not needed, so the costs cannot be justified. In cold regions of the country, deeper foundations are needed to prevent the movement of the foundation due to freezing, so going with a basement makes economic sense (you are already digging down 4 to 8 feet already), which also added useful square footage and storage areas.
By neimanl

4/28/09 at 6:34 p.m.

Suggest removal

Well, the answer is obvious. Las Vegas homes don't have basements because of Harry Reid.
By torn

4/29/09 at 3:35 p.m.

Suggest removal

Obama will furnish all in Las Vegas a complimentary basement. If you are lucky enough to already have you, you will get a generous cash allowance.
By geenab65

4/29/09 at 8:52 p.m.

Suggest removal

Neiman1 and Torn,
How sad and pathetic that the both of you have nothing else to do. If you have NOTHING of intelligence to actually convey, just be quiet. You only allow your ignorance to be highlighted and ridiculed. Why on earth would you do that? Oh! You don't care and/or were never taught any better. Nevermind....carry on.