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Kerr Construction and Design

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.

Foundation underpinning underway in whole house renovation
Foundation underpinning underway in whole house renovation

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.

Completed basement
Same basement after renovation completed

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.

To schedule a consultation with our Design Team, call us at 604-263-0343 or fill out our online form.

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1676 W. 75 Av.
Vancouver, BC V6P 6G2 Canada
T: 604-263-0343
E: info@kerrconstruction.ca

Licensed Residential Builder with Provincial Homeowner Protection Office

© 2022 Kerr Construction and Design. All Rights Reserved.

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  • About
    • Our Company
    • Our People
      • Doug Kerr, Our Founder
      • Meet Our Team
    • Our Process
      • The Kerr System
      • The Kerr Warranty
    • Our Recognitions
      • Kerr Renovation Awards
      • Media from Around North America
      • Key Industry Association and Organization Partners
    • Downloads
      • Thinking About Building a Laneway House?
      • Six Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Home Renovation Budget
    • Kerr Articles
  • Kerr Design Studio
  • Portfolio
    • Whole Home
      • Crescentview North Vancouver
      • W 16th Ave.
      • New Custom Home Vancouver
      • West Vancouver Laneway House
      • Custom North Shore Home
      • North Vancouver Home Renovation
      • Shaughnessy Heritage Home Renovation
      • 1940’s Bungalow Reno
      • West Vancouver Renovation
      • Mackenzie Heights
      • Vancouver Condo Renovation
      • Vancouver Home Renovation
      • Before and After Portfolio
    • Specific Rooms
      • Kitchens
      • Bathrooms
      • Living Rooms
      • Bedrooms
      • Outdoor Living
      • Details
      • Commercial
    • 3D Conceptual Designs
    • Before & After Videos
  • Consultation
  • Services
    • Laneway Homes
    • Basement Renos/ Foundation Repair
    • Design-Build Contractor System
    • Pre-Build
      • Home Renovation Feasibility Study
      • City Hall Permit Process
      • Conceptual Design
      • Full Home Design Drawings
      • Interior Design
    • Full House Build
      • New Home Builder
      • Custom Home Builder
    • Renovations & Additions
      • Home Additions
      • Home Renovations
      • Kitchen Renovations
      • Bathroom Renovations
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Career Opportunities