It's an interesting parable that works on a lot of different levels. Here's some thoughts that are tangential to the explicit message of the story:
In most situations in life that are important, there is a basement -- but there is no door leading to it...
... there is a foundation but there is no way to scrape the paint away...
... and even houses with excellent foundations sometimes get ripped apart by tornados while the poorly constructed house right next door remains standing.
Cheers,
Deron