is it even possible?

[JeffG78]

As a youth (in Ohio) I remember visiting in more than one home that had a basement added sometime after the house was built. I always thought it was unusual that the basement walls sat in from the outside of the house. I remember there was a ledge about 30" deep around the perimeter of the basement walls at a level where the old crawl space had been, and the owners stored items on the shelf the ledge made. I was too young to really pay much attention to the construction but I guess the basement walls were dug out inside the the original perimeter so as to not disturb whatever footers there were. And the new basement walls came up to meet and form the ledge. So I guess it could be done, but other options mentioned here sound much better.

I grew up in Ohio and I had relatives with basements just as you describe. I see no reason that the OP couldn't have a "sunken basement". It would surely be smaller than the original, but he could gain ceiling height in the important areas.

[jking]

As a youth (in Ohio) I remember visiting in more than one home that had a basement added sometime after the house was built. I always thought it was unusual that the basement walls sat in from the outside of the house. I remember there was a ledge about 30" deep around the perimeter of the basement walls at a level where the old crawl space had been, and the owners stored items on the shelf the ledge made. I was too young to really pay much attention to the construction but I guess the basement walls were dug out inside the the original perimeter so as to not disturb whatever footers there were. And the new basement walls came up to meet and form the ledge. So I guess it could be done, but other options mentioned here sound much better.

This is not a very good solution. Long term, the ground pressure will begin to push the knee walls in.

By far, the two best solutions for the OP are either to buy a bigger/different house, or raise the house. Certainly, there are risks involved, but, several people make it sound as though raising a house will cause a large amount of damage. Naturally, it is dependent on the house, but, there are companies which do this type of thing routinely. They wouldn't be in business if every house they moved or raised required extensive drywall or floor repair when they were finished.

[chopnhack]

True, but again there is the risk of some damage and for sure there will be repairs to be made to both plumbing, electrical and perhaps hvac to consider.

Naturally, it is dependent on the house, but, there are companies which do this type of thing routinely. They wouldn't be in business if every house they moved or raised required extensive drywall or floor repair when they were finished.

[Wood_workur]

As a youth (in Ohio) I remember visiting in more than one home that had a basement added sometime after the house was built. I always thought it was unusual that the basement walls sat in from the outside of the house. I remember there was a ledge about 30" deep around the perimeter of the basement walls at a level where the old crawl space had been, and the owners stored items on the shelf the ledge made. I was too young to really pay much attention to the construction but I guess the basement walls were dug out inside the the original perimeter so as to not disturb whatever footers there were. And the new basement walls came up to meet and form the ledge. So I guess it could be done, but other options mentioned here sound much better.

Its an add on basement. Originally it was a craw space, and we had a partial basement, then the craw space was excavated during a remodel.

Why it was left so low is beyond me, along with why the tallest person in the family is living in the basement.

Oh well, I guess ceiling height will be a mental note for when I build my own house.