{"id":1157,"date":"2022-04-13T18:04:24","date_gmt":"2022-04-13T18:04:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/HouseOverhaul.com\/?p=1157"},"modified":"2022-04-13T18:04:43","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T18:04:43","slug":"turning-a-crawl-space-into-a-basement-the-right-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/HouseOverhaul.com\/turning-a-crawl-space-into-a-basement-the-right-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Turning a crawl space into a basement: The right way"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Turning a crawl space into a basement is a big undertaking that cannot be done alone. You will need the help of a contractor, but you can know what the order of steps are to install a basement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will need the help of a contractor, but there are certain aspects of the process that you can do by yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you begin demolishing anything, it is important to obtain a building permit. This will help you not run into problems with the city or your homeowner’s association later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obtaining the building permit is a process in and of itself. To obtain a permit, you will need to fill out the application<\/strong> first. Just because you complete this application does not mean you will be allowed to build as you desire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After finishing the application, you will need to prepare the site plan<\/strong>. Hefty jobs will require you to call an architect or other professionals so you can draw out the project with proper building codes in mind. With the changing of the structure underneath your house, professionals will need to be involved. With the site plan and application completed, you can schedule an appointment to meet with the city to review and receive approval for the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will need to receive the permit before you can begin building, so waiting for the permit is essential. An inspector will need to come and check the project regularly, after you receive the permit, to ensure you are following the site plan you and the contractor laid out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After you finish the project as anticipated, the city will need to send someone to come for a final review<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After you have received your building permit, you and the contractor will be working closely to follow the plans you have set in place. Aside from removing anything that may already be in the crawlspace, the second major undertaking involved bolstering the foundation piers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This will maintain the integrity<\/strong> of the foundation. Since you will be working around the foundation and do not want your house to come crumbling down, this step is crucial. Without reinforcing the foundation piers, you can destroy not only the foundation of your house but also your house itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reinforcing the foundation piers is when a trained professional will come in handy. A professional engineer will need to ensure the foundation is kept safe and will continue to support the house as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Digging out the dirt to the desired depth will be quite an ordeal. Usually, this has to be done by hand, so finishing the project will require many man-hours. You can hire a team to do all of the work for you, or you can save money by digging out the dirt yourself alongside the professionals you enlisted. The professionals might have a team, but you can always ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In total, you can be shoveling<\/strong> out hundreds of thousands of pounds of dirt, so this task is no easy feat. It is good to get all the help you can to help the process go along as fast as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After all of the dirt is removed from the crawl space, you will need to create a structure around the walls by pouring cement. This will still involve the assistance of the professionals you have hired, and you will be quite grateful for them in the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will also need to include a “bench footing”<\/strong>. This will reinforce the structure around the walls and support<\/strong> the overall foundation. The contractor will dig a perimeter around the desired basement area. They then will dig how deep you want the new basement to go. The bench footings now come into play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The contractor will create new footings that will extend deeper than the new floor’s depth. The contractor will cover the walls and the new footings with cement, creating a bench effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the foundation is secure for the new basement, the next step will involve installing a drainage system. This is essential to the new basement because otherwise, the basement can flood very badly. While flooding still does happen, it can be lessened in the amount of water that is taken into your new basement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A proper draining system will not always completely prevent the basement from obtaining any water, but it will severely lessen the horrible impact flooding will have on the basement. A drainage system will fail eventually, though, so this is something to know before installing a new basement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Various drainage systems can be installed in your basement, some of which are: sump pumps, floor drains, interior french drains, and an exterior drain tile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sump pumps <\/strong>are vital in removing water from underneath a house. There are two kinds of sump pumps: submersible and pedestal. Submersible sump pumps<\/strong> are just that. They are under the ground and retain water in a pit about 2 feet wide and 1 1\/2 feet deep. Smaller pits will fill up quickly and have to work extra hard, but large pits are harder to clean, so a smaller pit may be the better option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Bolster The Foundation Piers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Dig Out Dirt To The Desired Depth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Add In A “Bench Footing”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Install The Drainage System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n