It’s not just Hobbits who live in underground homes! Some adventurous types are willing to dwell in a more rooted structure to the land. Also known as earth-sheltered homes, earth homes, or earth-bermed homes, living underground brings unique benefits and challenges.
What is an earth-sheltered home?
Underground homes can have varying structures. One can be dug out from the side of a hill with a watertight roof and sides covered by soil. Another can have modular sections placed aboveground and then covered over. Or one can even have a story aboveground and a floor belowground, much like a basement.
The result is a home that looks like something from a fairy tale, with a front entry, windows, and maybe a window or two on another side. Often, the house only has a door and a couple of windows on the front.
Pros of underground homes
There are several advantages to an earth-sheltered home.
- Energy efficiency is the most significant benefit because soil is an excellent insulator. The inside temperature stays consistently in the 55- to 60-degree Fahrenheit range year-round, so the need for HVAC is minimal.
- Outside sounds rarely penetrate, so it is very quiet.
- It is the safest place to be during a tornado or other disaster. However, it needs to be located above any potential flood zone.
- Limited windows mean excellent privacy.
Cons of underground homes
- An earth-sheltered home is expensive to build.
- You heavily rely on interior lighting because of the limited windows and doors.
- The house must be strongly constructed and waterproofed to avoid leaks.
- Fewer windows mean you will need ventilation shafts to provide fresh air.
- Being underground means more exposure to insects and arachnids.
- If the frame is lumber, an underground home is a big attraction for termites.
- Your home may not be as spacious because of the high cost of construction.
- Resale is tough because earth homes are in minimal demand.
- Getting financing approval for an underground home is challenging because the lack of comps in the area makes these types of homes difficult to appraise.
Related – The Three Ms: Modular, Mobile, and Manufactured Housing
