Basement Lowering in Toronto
At Nusite Group, we specialize in basement lowering in Toronto, transforming underutilized basements into functional, livable spaces. Whether you’re a homeowner looking to maximize the space in your home or a commercial property owner needing additional, usable square footage, our expert team can underpin your basement, ensuring safety and structural integrity while significantly increasing your property’s value.
Our basement lowering services are designed to create more headroom and functional space in your home or business. By underpinning your basement, we effectively lower the floor, giving you the extra space you need without the cost of an extension. Serving Toronto and the GTA for over 30 years, we have the expertise and experience to handle even the most challenging projects, turning your basement into a valuable and livable area.
What Is Basement Lowering?
Basement lowering, also known as underpinning, is a specialized construction process used to increase the ceiling height of a basement by lowering its floor. This involves carefully excavating the soil beneath your basement, reinforcing or extending the basement walls, and ensuring the structural integrity of the building throughout the process. For many Toronto homeowners, this process is a practical solution to create more usable space in their home without expanding the building’s footprint.
The basement lowering process begins with a detailed assessment of your existing foundation and soil conditions. Once we have a clear understanding of the structure, our team systematically excavates and lowers the basement floor while reinforcing the basement walls to maintain the safety and stability of the home. Basement lowering is one of the most effective ways to transform a cramped, unusable basement into a spacious, livable area, perfect for additional bedrooms, recreation rooms, or even rental units.
Work With an Experienced Underpinning Company in Toronto
When you work with Nusite Group, you’re partnering with one of the most experienced underpinning contractors in the Greater Toronto Area. With hundreds of underpinning projects under our belt, we are the basement lowering experts who can help you create a new space in your home while maintaining structural integrity. Our team is well-versed in the underpinning process, ensuring that every project is completed to the highest standards of safety and quality.
In addition to basement lowering, we also install waterproofing systems as part of our comprehensive service, protecting your investment and ensuring the longevity of your new space. Trust the experts at Nusite Group to handle your project with care and precision, delivering results that stand the test of time.
Benefits of Underpinning and Basement Lowering
Choosing basement underpinning in Toronto offers a range of benefits that can significantly enhance the value and functionality of your property. Here are some of the key advantages:
- Increased Living Space: By lowering the basement floor, you expand your home’s usable square footage, turning an underutilized area into a functional and comfortable living space.
- Increased Height: Basement lowering increases ceiling height, making the basement more suitable for a variety of uses, from a finished basement to additional bedrooms or a home office.
- Transform Crawl Space into a Basement: Convert a low, cramped crawl space into a full-height basement, adding valuable living or storage space to your home.
- Expand without Expanding: Basement underpinning allows you to expand your living space without altering the exterior footprint of your home, making it an ideal solution in densely populated areas like Toronto.
- Enhanced Property Value: A finished basement with increased height and usable space can significantly increase the market value of your home.
- Versatile Space: Whether you want to create a rental unit, a home gym, or a family entertainment area, basement underpinning provides the flexibility to customize the space according to your needs.
BENCH FOOTING SERVICES
The bench footings basement lowering method is an excellent alternative when traditional underpinning is not feasible. This underpinning method involves digging down in front of the internal foundation wall until just above the existing foundation footings, often referred to as the “7/10.” At this point, our team constructs a “bench” between the foundation wall and the basement floor, enhancing the strength of the basement foundation while also increasing the basement height.
One of the significant advantages of bench footings is the ability to convert a basement with a height of 5ft, 6ft, or 7ft into a spacious area with over 9ft of headroom. This makes it an effective solution for property owners looking to maximize the functionality of their basements. While bench footing methods typically take about 30 working days from start to finish, the result is a sturdy, reliable, and expanded basement space that significantly enhances the value and usability of your property.
DIGGING CRAWL SPACE SERVICES
Digging out a crawl space is a specialized basement lowering method that allows you to transform a small, cramped area into a full-height, functional basement. As a contractor with extensive experience in this area, Nusite Group excels in this complex and precise process, which involves removing the existing basement floor and excavating to achieve the desired height of your basement.
This process is one of the most expensive underpinning methods in residential construction due to the significant amount of work involved. Digging crawl space services require double or sometimes triple the amount of excavation and underpinning compared to the standard 2 feet underpinning. Once the space is cleared of debris, our team will extend and strengthen your foundation walls, ensuring the newly created basement is not only livable but also structurally sound. This service is ideal for homeowners looking to add substantial living space to their home, maximizing both functionality and property value.
Why Choose Us For Your Basement Lowering Project
When selecting a contractor for your basement lowering project, Nusite Group offers several compelling reasons to choose us:
- Fully insured and certified: We are fully covered by WSIB, ensuring your project is protected.
- Compliance with building code: We collaborate with structural engineers to ensure that your basement underpinning process meets all local building code requirements.
- Free, no-obligation estimates: We provide transparent, upfront estimates at no cost to you.
- Written guarantee: All work performed is backed by a written guarantee for your peace of mind.
- On time and on budget: We complete every project within the agreed timeline and budget.
- Flexible financing options: Including 0% financing to help make your project more affordable.
- References and prior projects provided: We are happy to share examples of our work so you can see the quality and reliability of our services.
Basement Lowering FAQ
Factors that Impact the Cost of Basement Underpinning
The cost of underpinning in Toronto can vary based on several factors. Understanding these can help you plan your project more effectively:
- Depth of Excavation: The greater the depth required for lowering the basement, the higher the cost due to the increased labor and materials needed.
- Size of the Basement: Larger basements require more work and materials, which can significantly impact the overall cost.
- Soil Conditions: Poor soil conditions may require additional stabilization efforts, increasing the complexity and cost of the underpinning process.
- Structural Modifications: If your project requires significant modifications to the existing structure, such as reinforcing walls or foundations, this can add to the overall cost.
- Waterproofing Installation: Including waterproofing as part of the project ensures long-term durability but will also add to the total cost.
- Access to the Site: Limited access to the work area can complicate the project, leading to higher labor costs.
- Permits and Approvals: Securing necessary permits and ensuring compliance with local regulations can also contribute to the cost of underpinning in Toronto.
Is benching better than underpinning?
It depends on what you want to use the space for. Both have their pros and cons, and we’ve outlined some below:
Benching
Lowering a basement via benching creates extra living space in the basement, but it reduces the space by leaving a bench-like edge around the perimeter. So while it adds extra living space by adding two feet of headroom, it reduces the width of the room.
Probably the biggest benefit of benching is that only requires a few days to complete. The cost of benching per linear foot is typically between $275 and $400. You can estimate costs based on the linear feet of your basement multiplied by the cost per linear foot.
Underpinning
A huge benefit of underpinning that benching does not do is that it allows your contractors to evaluate if there is any damage or issues with your home’s foundation. Underpinning involves demolishing the existing concrete floor any non-weight-bearing structures and leaving only the structural frame behind. Before pouring the new concrete, your contractor can take care of any structural issues they discover. Thus, underpinning improves not only your livable area in your basement but also the structural integrity of your home, taking down any dangerous crawl space.
Another benefit to underpinning is that it does not leave a bench-like edge around the perimeter of the room, meaning you get to use the full warm space to live.
As for cost, underpinning generally costs between $350 to $500 per linear foot. Again, you can estimate costs based on the linear feet of your basement multiplied by the cost per linear foot. The basement underpinning process also generally takes weeks to complete.
How long does it take to underpin a basement?
Every basement varies in height and size, meaning the amount of time it takes to finish a job also varies. But first, you need a permit.
What Permit Do You Need?
The city of Toronto requires permits for any type of structural work. As such, homeowners are required to obtain a building permit before any type of underpinning or benching work can begin. First, you or your contractor must contact a licenced architect and then the application must be submitted to the city with the architect’s stamped drawings attached to it.
How Long Will it Take?
It can take approximately 25 days to receive the permit from the city once you have submitted the application. However, if you are requesting a permit in the summertime when construction season is busiest, it could take upwards of six weeks.
Generally, a basement foundation is lowered to add an additional two to two and a half feet and takes, on average, 35 days to complete once permits have been granted. It could take more or less time, depending on the size of your basement and how much work is needed.
A couple of other factors that could impact how long it takes include:
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Reinforced concrete – if your basement flooring is made of reinforced concrete, your contractor may need special equipment to break it.
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Accessibility – if your basement is not easily accessible, it is going to take longer. For example, a conveyer is used to remove dirt from the basement. If your contractor is unable to use one, it is going to take significantly more time to move the dirt outside.
How Much Will it Cost?
In Toronto, depending on the size of the basement and the difficulty of the job, the cost will vary significantly. The average cost for the architect’s service/drawings and the permit can range between $2,500 and $4,500. As for the actual underpinning, you can estimate around $50,000, but do not be surprised if your estimate is higher.
Is basement lowering safe for my home’s structure?
Yes, basement lowering is safe for your home’s structure when performed by experienced professionals. At Nusite Group, we follow a meticulous underpinning process that involves reinforcing the foundation to ensure the structural integrity of your home. Our team of structural engineers and basement lowering experts assess the soil conditions and existing foundation to design a customized plan that meets all local building codes. By carefully lowering the basement floor and supporting the walls, we ensure that your home remains stable and secure throughout the process and for years to come.
Will basement lowering increase the value of my property?
Absolutely, basement lowering can significantly increase the value of your property. By adding usable living space, you can transform an underutilized basement into a functional area, such as an additional bedroom, home office, or rental unit. This increased square footage, combined with the enhanced height and improved aesthetics, makes your home more appealing to potential buyers. In a competitive real estate market like Toronto, a finished basement with ample headroom and modern amenities can set your property apart, resulting in a higher resale value.
What are the benefits of choosing bench footing over traditional underpinning?
Choosing bench footing over traditional underpinning offers several benefits, particularly when full-depth underpinning is not feasible. Bench footings involve creating a “bench” along the interior foundation walls, which provides additional support while increasing the height of your basement. This method is less invasive than traditional underpinning and can be a more cost-effective option. Bench footing is ideal for properties with difficult soil conditions or where existing foundations cannot be safely lowered. It allows you to achieve greater basement height and improved functionality without the extensive excavation required by traditional underpinning.
Is underpinning worth it in Toronto?
There are several reasons why a basement underpinning project is absolutely worth it in Toronto, including the following:
More Livable Space
Many homes in Toronto are built too close to each other, making it challenging or even impossible to add additions to homes. Underpinning is a great alternative way for residents in Toronto to add more living space to their homes without sacrificing what little yard space they have (if they even have it!). Plus, you won’t have to pay additional property taxes because this expansion does not take up more room on your property.
Also, with the rising cost of housing in Toronto putting the prospect of moving further out of reach, this can be particularly helpful to residents who need more space for growing families. It turns a cramped or unusable basement into a livable space for any type of room they want.
Additional Income Opportunity
You could opt to turn your newly renovated space into a rental unit. This would bring in secondary income that you could use for things like paying down your mortgage or saving up for vacations.
Increased House Value
Well-done basement renovations equal increased equity, meaning an increased home value. The process of underpinning repairs any current basement foundation issues and often leads homeowners to upgrade older systems, such as plumbing, electrical, HVAC and more. Plus, if you decide to sell your home, buyers are always more interested in a finished basement.
What should you consider before basement lowering?
When considering basement lowering, there are several important factors to keep in mind to ensure a successful project:
- Budget and Cost: Basement underpinning is a complex and detailed process that can be quite expensive. It’s crucial to have a clear budget in place before starting the project. The investment is substantial, but the increased livable space and property value can make it worthwhile.
- Purpose and Planning: Before beginning the basement lowering process, it’s essential to have a clear purpose for the new space. Whether you’re aiming to create a rental unit, a home office, or additional living space, knowing the intended use will guide decisions on insulation, fixtures, and finishing touches. This planning ensures that the final product meets your needs.
- Structural Integrity: The underpinning process can affect the structural integrity of your home. Each step of the project must be handled with precision, and regular inspections should be conducted to ensure that the home’s stability is maintained throughout the process. Working with experienced contractors who understand the intricacies of basement lowering is crucial for safety and success.
- Waterproofing: Protecting your newly lowered basement from moisture and water damage is essential. High moisture levels or leaks can ruin the space shortly after renovation, so implementing waterproofing measures is vital. This might include installing drainage systems, sump pumps, or waterproof membranes to prevent future issues.
- Post-Project Considerations: After the basement lowering is complete, you’ll need to consider the final touches, such as electrical systems, lighting, and other necessary fittings. Having a clear post-project plan ensures that your new space is fully functional and ready for use.
By carefully considering these factors, you can ensure that your basement lowering project is successful and that the new space meets all your needs and expectations.
How does Nusite ensure that my basement will remain waterproof after lowering?
At Nusite Group, we prioritize waterproofing as a critical component of the basement lowering process. After lowering the basement and reinforcing the foundation, we install advanced waterproofing systems to protect your new space from water intrusion. Our team uses high-quality materials and proven techniques, such as interior drainage systems, sump pumps, and exterior waterproof membranes, to ensure that your basement remains dry and secure. By addressing potential water issues during the underpinning process, we safeguard your investment and ensure long-lasting durability for your newly created space.
Can I convert my crawl space into a full-height basement?
Yes, converting a crawl space into a full-height basement is possible and can add substantial value and functionality to your home. The process involves digging out the crawl space to achieve the desired basement height, followed by reinforcing and extending the foundation walls to maintain structural integrity. This type of basement lowering requires significant excavation and underpinning, but the result is a spacious, usable basement that can be transformed into a living area, storage space, or even a rental unit. Although this process can be more expensive than standard basement lowering, the added square footage and potential for increased property value make it a worthwhile investment for many homeowners in Toronto.
Can a basement floor be lowered?
Absolutely. By lowering your basement floor, you create a more open and usable living space in what may have otherwise been a dark and dreary storage area. Often, older basements are considered to be unlivable spaces, used mostly for storing boxes and old furniture and a place to do laundry. And in some cases, the basement was never even meant to be a living space.
Nevertheless, basements today can be so much more than just a second thought. Many modern homes have living rooms, rec rooms, offices and even bedrooms in their basements. Some even have second kitchens or have been turned into entire rental suites.
The thing is, homeowners with older basements have the ability to do all of this as well! But wait, you say your ceiling is too low? Not a problem. The basement lowering Toronto by Nusite Group can help you create a more usable living space in your basement by lowering your basement.
There are two methods for lowering a basement:
Underpinning
The foundation underpinning process allows homeowners to create a usable space while also strengthening the home’s foundation. In many older homes, you can often find the plumbing, electrical and more running along the ceilings. But tearing up the foundation, homeowners can also take on upgrades to their plumbing and electrical, which can be found under the basement flooring.
The underpinning process can also be a great opportunity to invest in better insulation and an improved basement waterproofing system and to bring the home up to modern code standards.
The underpinning basement lowering process involves digging a series of holes into your existing foundation footing. These holes are then filled in sequence in order to strengthen and lower the footing. This process also ensures the structural integrity of the walls is maintained. Afterward, the dirt on the inside of the foundation is dug out to maximize the height of your ceilings.
One thing to note, however, is that underpinning is quite time-consuming. This type of project requires ample time as your contractor has to go through it one foot at a time, thus ensuring a slow process.
Benching
Another method for lowering your basement is foundation benching (or bench footing). This process is quicker than underpinning and less costly but does not create as much new living space in your basement. Benching is usually used as an alternative to underpinning. It is generally done to avoid undermining an existing neighbouring structure that is too close and risks being undermined during the underpinning process.
This process forms a ledge around the walls of the existing basement’s perimeter instead of excavating beneath the foundation to extend the existing footings further. The floor is then dug down just before the end of the foundation’s footing.
A concrete “bench” is then built between the foundation wall and the floor, creating foundation wall strength, as well as increased basement height, but leaving you with a bench-like structure or edging around your foundation walls. So while it does lower your basement concrete floor, giving you higher ceilings, it takes away some of the width of the room.
However, don’t let that stop you! You can use this opportunity to create floor-to-ceiling built-in shelving or cupboards or even an entertainment center atop the edging.
Do you have references and can I see some of your past projects?
Yes. We will provide them upon request.