We typically recommend either a conditioned crawl space or a full-height basement, depending on the needs of your project. Both options offer controlled air quality, energy-efficient performance, and full access to mechanical systems — the difference comes down to space and intent.
Crawl spaces provide performance benefits — air sealing, access to services, and thermal envelope integrity — but in a lower-profile form. They’re ideal when you want high performance without the added cost or complexity of a full basement.
A full basement gives you all the benefits of a conditioned crawl space, with the added bonus of usable square footage. Whether for a legal suite, storage, or future living space, basements offer unmatched flexibility. While more expensive to construct, they can dramatically increase the utility and value of your home.
Slabs may seem simple, but they come with long-term limitations: no access to services, poor adaptability, and higher performance detailing requirements. We usually recommend avoiding slabs unless the project is extremely small, the site is flat, and long-term flexibility isn’t a concern.
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“Aging in place ready” means that a home is designed or prepared to allow someone to live there safely, comfortably, and independently as they grow older — without needing to move out due to age-related limitations.
It typically includes:
No-step entry (at least one entrance without stairs)
Wider doorways and hallways (for mobility aids like walkers or wheelchairs)
Main floor living (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, laundry all on one level)
Reinforced walls (to allow for future installation of grab bars)
Non-slip flooring
Good lighting (especially in task areas and stairwells)
Lever-style door handles and faucets (easier for arthritic hands)
Shower with no threshold (walk-in or roll-in showers)
Being “aging in place ready” doesn’t mean the home has all these features installed — just that it’s set up in a way that they can be easily added when needed.