Method of basement construction

Abstract

A method of constructing an inhabitable underground structure is disclosed that comprises the steps: creating a cutout in the earth at a desired location to generally match a desired shape of an interior of the underground structure; applying a reinforcement structure to an outer perimeter of the cutout; and applying shotcrete over the reinforcement structure to create a monolithic underground structure.

1 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method of constructing an inhabitable structure having an underground portion comprising the steps:
 creating a cutout in the earth at a desired location to generally match a desired shape of the underground portion;   applying concrete to the cutout to create an underground structure;   forming an inner surface of the bottom of the underground structure to have a concave curvature at a plurality of corners of the underground structure; and   using a top side of the underground structure as a foundation to support an above ground portion of the inhabitable structure.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of placing a sump drain in the bottom of the underground structure for draining moisture from the underground structure. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of placing a plurality of floor beams across a floor of the underground structure by mounting the plurality of floor beams above a bottom of the underground structure such that a resulting finished floor of the underground structure is spaced apart from the bottom of the underground structure to allow for draining of moisture between the finished floor and the underground structure. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein a bottom of the underground structure is shaped generally in the form of an inverted arch. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step using a reinforcement system in the concrete. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the reinforcement system is formed using rebar. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the reinforcement system is formed using fiber mesh. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the concrete is applied using a dry mix process. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the bottom of the reinforcement system is flat. 
     
     
         17 . An inhabitable structure having an underground portion located within a cutout in the earth generally matching a shape of the underground portion of the inhabitable structure, the underground portion comprising:
 a plurality of walls and a bottom connected to the plurality of walls, each of the plurality of walls and the bottom formed of concrete to create an underground structure;   one or more transitions comprising concave curvatures located between one or more of the plurality of walls and the bottom of the underground structure; and   at least one top surface capable of acting as a foundation for an above ground portion of the inhabitable structure.   
     
     
         18 . The inhabitable structure of  claim 17  further comprising a sump drain in the bottom of the underground structure for draining moisture from the underground structure. 
     
     
         20 . The inhabitable structure of  claim 17  further comprising a floor structure for supporting a finished floor and located over the bottom of the underground structure such that the finished floor of the underground structure is spaced apart from the bottom of the underground structure to allow for draining of moisture between the finished floor and the underground structure and wherein the floor structure comprises a plurality of floor beams across the underground structure. 
     
     
         21 . The inhabitable structure of  claim 20  wherein one or more ends of one or more of the plurality of floor beams are connected to one or more of the plurality of walls of the underground structure. 
     
     
         22 . The inhabitable structure of claim  3  wherein the one or more ends of one or more of the plurality of floor beams are connected to the walls using corresponding ledges located in the walls of the underground structure. 
     
     
         23 . The inhabitable structure of  claim 22  wherein the ledges comprise cutouts formed into inner surfaces of one or more of the plurality of walls, and wherein the underground structure further comprises pilasters protruding from external surfaces of the walls opposite the cutouts for increasing strength of the walls at the location of the cutouts. 
     
     
         24 . The inhabitable structure of claim  1  wherein the bottom of the underground structure is shaped in the form of an inverted arch. 
     
     
         25 . The inhabitable structure of  claim 17  further comprising a reinforcement system located within the underground structure. 
     
     
         26 . The inhabitable structure of claim  1  wherein the reinforcement structure comprises traditional rebar. 
     
     
         27 . The inhabitable structure of claim  1  wherein the reinforcement structure comprises fiber mesh.