tncraft - What did you use as a secondary exit? Tunnel, stairs leading outside of house? That was our first concern was getting stuck if the house fell on the basement door, some forums mention breathable air can become a concern in the concrete rooms too so second exit is a good idea. Yeah this idea does seem excessive to some, but better safe than sorry right? When SHTF everyone will be crowded around my basement trying to break in to my vienna sausage and tuna reserves ;)j/k but unless you've went through Hurricane Katrina or cleaned up the damage from the Tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, AL last year then you just can't understand what it's like. I have two children and if a 10k basement only saves them once in their lifetime it'll be worth every penny and being labeled as crazy ;) live_wire_oak - My grandfather did the same thing but used a large round cylinder (maybe was used to hold oil?), he only had to use it once during Hurricane Fredrick, it saved 10 peoples lives (my mother included) a tornado hit during the hurricane and went straight through the house. The cylinder was pounded a few yards away but stayed in the ground. I think some beams penetrated it but not enough to reach everyone inside. I say use whatever works.

The Triodetic foundation has been used for over 20 years in northern climates. There are hundreds of applications in Alaska. The System is used as an alternative foundation to piles or screw jacks and very cost effective. It can be easily assembled by the home owner. For more information Google Multipoint foundations. It is a very cool system. The architectural (above pics) product industrial domes is also pretty amazing. Here is a link that might be useful: Triodetic foundations

I was perusing my kane county illinois codes and I came across this and thought of this post. Maybe your area has a similar ordinance you can trump up to solve your problems: Codes: (8) a. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, to operate or permit operation of any sound amplification system in a vehicle or on property, or to perform lawn mowing or utilize power or nonpower tools, or to operate off road vehicles, including, but not limited to, off highway motorcycles, minibikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), snowmobiles or other like or similar vehicles, on private property where the noise from such vehicle or activity is such as to unreasonably disturb, injure or endanger the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of reasonable persons of ordinary sensitivity; and when after written or verbal warning from law enforcement personnel the owner or operator fails to cease and desist from such operation or activity. The terms "motorcycles", "off road motorcycles", and "all-terrain vehicles" shall have the same meaning as in the Illinois motor vehicle code. "Snowmobile" shall have the same meaning as in the snowmobile registration and safety act. b. To make, continue, create or cause to be made or continued any loud or raucous noise. c. To make, continue, create or cause to be made or continued any noise which is harsh, prolonged, unnatural, or unusual in time or place as to occasion unreasonable discomfort to any persons within the neighborhood from which the noise emanates or as to unreasonably interfere with the peace and comfort of neighbors or their guests or operators or customers in places of business, or as to detrimentally or adversely affect such residences or places of business. d. Factors for determining whether a sound is unreasonably loud or raucous may include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. The proximity of the sound to sleeping facilities, whether residential or commercial; 2. The land use, nature and zoning of the area from which the sound emanates and the area where it is received or perceived; 3. The time of day the sound occurs; 4. The duration of the sound; 5. Whether the sound is recurrent, intermittent, or constant; 6. Any violation of section 12-602 of the Illinois motor vehicle code; 7. Removal or modification of adequate sound suppression equipment as set forth in section 4-1(E) of the snowmobile registration and safety act.

Thanks everyone. I’ve decided to sell the house while I’m still under warranty. When i get an offer if the buyer hires an inspector any issues that arise that should be covered under warranty i will send it over to the no good builder. If it’s a couple thousand or less in repairs or something I may eat the cost. I don’t want to get into prolonged legal battles the home has already increased in value by about 30k in the 11 months I’ve owned it so hopefully I’ll walk away with a chunk of change in my pocket. I’m over it, I live in a rural area I honestly feel the builders and inspectors around here have no integrity. Two new houses were built across the street the grade looks awful, most the homes in this subdivision are new/built In 08 at the latest. They all are built pretty close together with grades similar to mine where the neighboring house have a grade much higher and slopes wonderfully into peoples homes. The city inspector out here seems clueless. I’m not an engineer so I didn’t notice this to be a problem when I was first interested in buying the home. After now experiencing it, grades may be one of the most important thing for me to focus on when buying a home. Yet my house passed city inspections, builders built it without a care in the world. I even hired an individual inspector to double check the home prior to the purchase. Either the folks out here have no idea what they are doing or they simply don’t care. I remember asking the city inspector when he came out here to look at it and I asked why is my neighbors grade so much higher then mine? He said “well son you are on a hill” bologna I found a google street view photo of my lot back in 2008 when this lot was empty and it was completely flat. These homes were built at the same time and i think they were just too lazy to do anything about that dirt and they just piled it up. Prior to my neighbor having landscape rock put in her grade looked like a clumped up mess. She can’t even access her side gate or even walk on that side of the house it’s literally just a giant sloping hill of rocky heavy clay you are practically sliding down hill trying to even walk on that side. Where I’m from this would never pass any sort of inspection. I’m sure she’s going to have issues down the road her self, honestly I hope everyone of these homes has issues. They may not see it yet but maybe the city inspector needs a reality check since he passes this type of Work as acceptable... my fence is even bowing out and screws breaking off the posts from the weight of her grade against it. Fence dug into the dirt all around the peremiter. What shotty work and inspections. I’m a new home owner and had to learn the hardway how awful this is. Yet contractors and inspectors don’t mention a word about it like it’s normal and acceptable. If I was an inspectoe (knowing what I know now) I would of suggested to the buyer a French drain be put in or problems may arise. That way I could of had the builder do it or walk away from the purchase but nope it wasn’t mentioned once. Lesson learned don’t trust city inspectors or any inspectors at least in rural areas like mine.