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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW 'Anti-Muslim' rally turns out to be pro-police ... Guest Opinion: Overcoming evil with good ... Guest Opinion: We know what to do to prevent mass shootings ... 'Anti-Muslim' rally turns out to be pro-police ... Guest Opinion: Overcoming evil with good ... Guest Opinion: We know what to do to prevent mass shootings ... Basements depend on frost lines By Howard R., Medford MailTribune.com By Howard R., Medford Posted Aug. 11, 1998 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 16, 2010 at 5:01 PM By Howard R., Medford Posted Aug. 11, 1998 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 16, 2010 at 5:01 PM » Social News One predictable annual event is the media attention given to the devastating heat wave that sweeps across the country, costing lives of many people. Having moved to Oregon from back East, where many people had cool basements beneath their homes to retire during very hot weather, I am wondering why basements are so rarely seen under dwellings here. -- Howard, this may surprise you, but basements are built to ward off winter's chill rather than to give us a place to hide from summer's heat. Don Taylor, who works in Medford's building department, said basements are a common feature in the East because the frost line is lower there than it is here. Back East, the ground can freeze to a depth of — or 4 feet, but the frost line in the Rogue Valley generally ranges from 12 to 18 inches. The way Taylor explains it, builders must set footings below the frost line to keep houses from shifting during the periodic freeze-and-thaw cycles. The deeper builders have to go to sink the footings, the more economical it becomes to dig a basement. Here in Southern Oregon, where the winters are relatively mild, footings don't need to go as deep, so it would add considerably to the cost of a house to dig a basement. (Send your questions to Since You Asked, Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; or by fax to (541) 776-4376; or by e-mail to: Please include your name, address and phone number for verification.) By Howard R., Medford MailTribune.com By Howard R., Medford Posted Aug. 11, 1998 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 16, 2010 at 5:01 PM » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501