Basement Foundation Underpinning
In Vancouver, homes that were built back in the early part of the last century weren’t always built with a full basement. Those basements were just meant for storage and holding the furnace and water heater.
They are such a waste of potential living space!
Storage space to new living space
Kerr has extensive experience in turning these half-basements into full ones to add tremendous value and valuable living space to such homes.
This basement extension is done by digging out the current basement to a new depth and then extending the foundation walls downwards to support the home on new footings.
Done with minimal inconvenience
The great thing about this type of renovation is that you do not have to leave your home while it is being done. All the work can be performed while you are comfortably living in the upper floors without disrupting too much your daily routines.
As well, the exterior of your home doesn’t have to be touched. The perimeter drainage for the home which now needs to be lowered because of the new walls can be done on the inside. This prevents the digging up of the exterior perimeter and destroying the flower beds or shrubs that are there.
Then, when the renovation is done, you miraculously have a whole new floor of prime living space into which you can easily extend your lifestyle.
Alternative for homes with height restrictions
However, such a renovation is not just for those with low-walled basements. If you live in an area with height restrictions on your home, deepening your basement provides an avenue for expansion. If you can’t go up, your option is to go down!
The technical name of this process of adding new lower walls to the foundation of your home is called “underpinning.”
Process used for foundation repairs
“Underpinning” is not just for cosmetic basement renovations as outlined above. It is also for foundation repairs.
Some early-built homes in Vancouver do not have proper footings. Consequently, some of the homes have been sinking or shifting. The way to fix this is through underpinning techniques to lower the foundation walls and create new solid footings so the home has a stable base.
Underpinning is also used when foundation walls have developed cracks or when the concrete walls are found to be crumbling away.
Need an experienced contractor
Choosing a contractor to do this kind of work cannot be made lightly. A botched job can cause your home to start to sink. If the drainage for the new walls is not handled correctly, you are looking for possible leaks and water damage in your newly renovated basement.
Kerr Construction is experienced at this type of work. In the last number of years, we have created over 30 new basement living spaces for homeowners in and around Vancouver.
We can do the same for you and your home.