To determine the average basement, we will use standard older homes in Scarborough. These basements are typically around 800 square feet, and the goal is usually to extend the foundation wall by about 2.5 feet. We estimate the completion time to be 5 weeks, not including unforeseen delays.

This type of work depends little on weather conditions, but delays may occur due to the city inspector waiting at each stage of the work. Here is an approximate schedule for the execution of basement lowering.

• Underpinning and excavation of all sections take first 3 weeks.
• Fourth week need for city inspections and engineering reports.
• Waterproofing, drain installation, and concrete finishing will be done in last week.

Keep in mind that additional tasks like initial demolition, creating basement walkouts, or external drain work can extend these timelines.

Problems often come up because people haven’t fully thought out what they’ll be doing with their basement once it’s been underpinned. Architects and engineers aren’t mind-readers. They just focus on the structural details. Here’s what homeowners often get wrong:

• Guessing the sizes of existing walls and footings
• Main sewer drain is higher than the new basement floor
• Not planning out future renovation layout
• Not knowing the exact size and location of beams and posts
• Ignoring the waterbed level

Completing drawings and work done by the same company usually clears up most of these issues.

It’s important to note that each basement underpinning project is unique and requires a separate quotation. This applies to both the time of work and the average cost. Cost is determined by many factors. The project is assessed by the architect using site-specific drawings and detailed calculations by the structural engineer.

One of the important factors is accessibility to the site. The average project requires space to install a bin and soil belt. If access is not available, a lot of soil removal work will need to be done manually. This significantly affects the cost of the project.

Another critical factor is scale of the project. The price per square feet will be cheaper for larger project. This is due to the reduction in cost on a scale.

Intricacy of the work and specific requirements also play role in the cost determining. This includes the depth of the excavation, the thickness of the new foundation and footings and everything regarding the type of concrete, pouring methods, and reinforcement needed.

It’s best to get quote for your specific basement underpinning project in Scarborough for costs understanding.

The Committee of Adjustments is generally involved when you’re looking to make construction changes that exceed local regulations or bylaws. This may include changing house square footage, roof slope, total area above ground, set backs, or adding new legal units. You need go through Committee of Adjustments if your project aims to exceed these established limits.

Basement underpinning in Scarborough typically doesn’t fall under these categories. It’s possible divide whole house renovation project into two separate permits. This approach allows you proceed with basement underpinning while waiting for approval for the rest of the project.

You will receive permit for basement underpinning in any case. Approval process may require additional time and multiple revisions if any problems arise. This happens when drawings are not clear or do not have necessary information. City department will ask construction engineer or architect for additional information. Be prepared for delays and revisions before approval is granted.

The timing of permit obtaining for basement underpinning may depend on several factors. On average, City authorities review request and respond within 3 – 4 weeks.

Firstly architect must create detailed drawings. He comes to the construction site and takes all necessary measurements for calculations. Drawings must be certified by the structural engine on which he will put his stamp. This entire process may take 2 to 4 weeks. It is worth considering that the timing of receiving drawings may also be affected by additional checks and clarifications from the building department.

Basement underpinning involves more than just digging deeper. There might be additional structural and aesthetic modifications. There are other potential expenses of such project:

• Basement Walkout – $15 000 to $25 000 each
• Window Cutout – $500 to $1000 each
• Exterior Drain/water Replacement – $4 000 to $6 000 each
• Initial Demolition and disposal – $1 to $3 per square foot
• Block/Concrete Addition – $60 to $100 per square foot
• Concrete Slab – $10 to 15 per square foot
• Frame and Pour Footings – $25 to $50 per linear foot
• Excavation – calculated on site

Basement lowering is method used to increase height of a basement to make it more usable, livable, and compliant with modern building codes. Desired depth depends on homeowner’s preferences, intended use of the space, and existing structural considerations. Homeowners in most cases want basement height of 8 – 9 feet. In rare cases preferable height is 10 feet.

Note that it is necessary to excavate another 8-12 inches deeper. This depth is used for installing high-quality concrete foundation slab, drain and other systems. In general, average depth of house foundation lowers to 2 to 3 feet.

Absolutely, you can! City offers rebates for certain home improvement projects and it include basement underpinning. 

Basement Flooding Protection:

You can have rebates if your underpinning project includes waterproofing elements like backwater valves or sump pumps. It’s smart way to protect home from flooding and save your money.

HST Rebate on Home Renovations:

You might be able to reclaim some of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) if planning major basement transformation. It means that you can get back part of the tax spent on the renovation. This can make your project more budget-friendly.

Keep detailed records of your project to have most of these rebates. Receipts, contracts, and before-and-after photos help you with this. Programs can change and better to check latest details with your local municipality. We also help our clients and give them fresh information about possible rebates.

Basement underpinning is often just beginning of larger renovation project. Basement finishing or full house renovation typically comes after underpinning. Effective planning and coordination are crucial in these processes.

Communication with other professionals who’ll be working after us is key. Need align on all details like exact window openings, specific structural support and placement of drains and water lines. This approach creates high-quality interaction and smooth transition between construction stages.