jatfromklb
New Member
i am buying a little house with a full basement, but it only has 7-ft headspace. can anything be done. thanx
can one deepen a basement (don't LOL)
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Jimbo
Plumber
I've seen it done. You need to have a general contractor or engineer look at it. The issues with digging the basement deeper is how does it affect the foundation/footers.
If money is not object, there is another technique....raise the house. Saw that done here once. House was on a crawl space....maybe 3 feet. They raised the house up, dug out some, and put a whole new "first floor" under the existing house. $$$$$
If money is not object, there is another technique....raise the house. Saw that done here once. House was on a crawl space....maybe 3 feet. They raised the house up, dug out some, and put a whole new "first floor" under the existing house. $$$$$
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Krow
Plumber
The footings can be "under-pinned" with shrink free cement. In most cases, they will ask you to install rebar up inside the new extended footing and tieing in to the horizontal concrete floor. (Each state or province will have their own critiria) It is usually dug out and poured at 4' intervals. They usually recommend 4' on opposite walls at 1 time ie: 4' on west wall and 4' on east wall on the same day. Then continue in this fashion until the entire perimeter is done. (check with your local authorities for the bylaws that apply to you)
Other methods include digging in front of the footing in the basement and pouring in fron't of the footing . General rule of thumb is, for every 1' down, the cement must stick into the basement 1'. This method is less time consuming, but not the greatest looking. Too much lost floor space to have the 1 ' ledge around your entire basement.
Other methods include digging in front of the footing in the basement and pouring in fron't of the footing . General rule of thumb is, for every 1' down, the cement must stick into the basement 1'. This method is less time consuming, but not the greatest looking. Too much lost floor space to have the 1 ' ledge around your entire basement.
jatfromklb
New Member
deeper basement
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thanx jimbo. money is an object as the whole house is only $79,000.
perhaps when i have an inspector come in to check the house, i'll ask him
also (if he would know).
oldielocks again!
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thanx jimbo. money is an object as the whole house is only $79,000.
perhaps when i have an inspector come in to check the house, i'll ask him
also (if he would know).
oldielocks again!
jatfromklb
New Member
deepening basement
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thanx, krow. this is a 90-year-old house and its still standing; must be built solid. your first idea is a good one and i will certainly check it out. perhaps
the inspector i hire will know.
oldielocks
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thanx, krow. this is a 90-year-old house and its still standing; must be built solid. your first idea is a good one and i will certainly check it out. perhaps
the inspector i hire will know.
oldielocks
Being I am only 5 feet tall, 7 foot in a basement would be fine for me. You got to figure, too how often are you going to be in the basement? If there are other properties for sale, why not continue looking? And, put that money you would had spent in raising the house into another property maybe, of greater value?
Nate R
Member
What's wrong w/ a 7 foot basement? You looking to finish it? @ 79K, I would think it's not worth going deeper if it's 7ft as it is.
FWIW, I have a bedroom w/ a 6'11" Ceiling in our 85 year old home, and our bathroom is 7 ft.
FWIW, I have a bedroom w/ a 6'11" Ceiling in our 85 year old home, and our bathroom is 7 ft.
Bob NH
In the Trades
A 90 year old house probably has lath-and-plaster walls and ceilings. Anything you do that moves the foundation will probably crack the plaster.
I suspect that it will cost $20k to $30k to get an extra foot or so in the basement. Would you pay that much more for the house? Could you sell the house for at least $125k to pay for the higher ceiling and the trouble and risk you will go through to change it?
I suspect that it will cost $20k to $30k to get an extra foot or so in the basement. Would you pay that much more for the house? Could you sell the house for at least $125k to pay for the higher ceiling and the trouble and risk you will go through to change it?
Bill Arden
Computer Programmer
7 feet feels claustrophobic. I wounder if mirrors could be used to make it look higher.
I know one couple that jacked up there house and used 5 gallon buckets to dig an entire basement.
The stepped floor system can be made to look ok if you add cabinates and other wall furnishings.
I know one couple that jacked up there house and used 5 gallon buckets to dig an entire basement.
The stepped floor system can be made to look ok if you add cabinates and other wall furnishings.
Frenchie
Jack of all trades
If you're looking at 20-30k to dig down a foot... that's about what it costs to raise a house. Definitely look into both options; sometimes raising is cheaper than digging.
Dropping a floor was on of the first jobs I worked on. Started with a 6'6" height ended with tall 8' or 9'. It was a LOT of work. Either way you go jacking it up or digging down will have an affect on the wall esp lath and plaster. Its not an if, but how much will the rest of the house be affected by this undertaking. The 20-30k is just for the concrete work. That usually does not include fixing the rest of the aftermath.
With this kind of expense you have to look at the return on this "investment" if you will sell the house in this lifetime. The guy we dropped the basement for had no problem throwing cash around he just wanted a more usable basement. At the price you mentioned, unless the houses in that area sell for 150k and up, this prob is not a good place to spend money.
With this kind of expense you have to look at the return on this "investment" if you will sell the house in this lifetime. The guy we dropped the basement for had no problem throwing cash around he just wanted a more usable basement. At the price you mentioned, unless the houses in that area sell for 150k and up, this prob is not a good place to spend money.
Gary Swart
In the Trades
I'd be willing to bet a profession house mover could raise the house 18" and not crack the plaster. They have lifting systems that are astonishing! Now, would it be worth the expense? I don't know, that would be your decision to make, but I think I would opt for that before digging the basement deeper and dealing with all of the concrete floor removal, making the foundation meet code, and pour a new floor. My house also has a 7' basement ceiling and I wish to God it was at least another foot higher, but no way do I want to pay the price to do it. Why people skimp on gouging out another foot or foot and a half when they are in the process of building, I'll never understand.
90 year old basements were not designed as living spaces. Thats why most are so low. The one I worked on was a small (900ft)lake cabin when it started in the 50's. Its been remodeled at least a dozen times and is now over 2k sq ft. Houses built now usually have a full height basement as its an easy way to add flexible space to a house for very little money to the builder. And it makes remodel work a lot easier being able to get to everything from underneath.
crater
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It's NOT uncommon for someone to install a basment where a crawl space or partial basement once existed. The cost I've heard is around 30k-50k. We are blessed to have a amish community close by and let me tell ya, them boys can lift, move, straighten, you name it without cracking anything. They have become more dependant on power tools though Anyway if the home and property is worth it, yes it can be done, Here it is done usually to a 100yr old farm house, by probally family member, that has boughten the entire farm and is just taking over the family operation. So money is not the biggest issue if they can remodel the house where there ancesters where born and lived.
Anyway if the home and property is worth it, yes it can be done, Here it is done usually to a 100yr old farm house, by probally family member, that has boughten the entire farm and is just taking over the family operation. So money is not the biggest issue if they can remodel the house where there ancesters where born and lived.
jatfromklb
New Member
oldielocks basement
thanx, cookie. i am also 5'7", but i wanted to put a room down there. i think that 7' would be awfully claustraphobic after a while. i am thinking of looking elsewhere. again, thanx, oldielocks
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thanx, cookie. i am also 5'7", but i wanted to put a room down there. i think that 7' would be awfully claustraphobic after a while. i am thinking of looking elsewhere. again, thanx, oldielocks
hj
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basement
Interesting question because that was addressed on one of the TV shows a couple of nights ago. The previous owner, who was a general contractor. Excavated below the existing footings to add an addition. By the time the footings were shored up, along with the other repairs needed because of it the new owners were into it for about $50,000.00. And that was only on one or two sides.
Interesting question because that was addressed on one of the TV shows a couple of nights ago. The previous owner, who was a general contractor. Excavated below the existing footings to add an addition. By the time the footings were shored up, along with the other repairs needed because of it the new owners were into it for about $50,000.00. And that was only on one or two sides.
jatfromklb
New Member
basement deepening
thanx hj. i have now been made aware of the cost involved by all return posts. perhaps it would be much cheaper to add to existing house. perhaps, also, it might be best to look for another house!
thanx, again: oldielocks
thanx hj. i have now been made aware of the cost involved by all return posts. perhaps it would be much cheaper to add to existing house. perhaps, also, it might be best to look for another house!
thanx, again: oldielocks
jatfromklb
New Member
deepening basement
thanx, crater. all return posts tell me the costs are ginourmas. the house is only $79,000 with 960 sqft. don't think i'll invest anything. maybe i'll add on instead.
thanx, again: oldielocks
******************************It's NOT uncommon for someone to install a basment where a crawl space or partial basement once existed. The cost I've heard is around 30k-50k. We are blessed to have a amish community close by and let me tell ya, them boys can lift, move, straighten, you name it without cracking anything. They have become more dependant on power tools though
thanx, crater. all return posts tell me the costs are ginourmas. the house is only $79,000 with 960 sqft. don't think i'll invest anything. maybe i'll add on instead.
thanx, again: oldielocks
jatfromklb
New Member
deepening basement
thanx, shaq-fu. i have given up the idea as too expensive, as noted in all my return mail. perhaps i'll add on instead.
thanx, again: oldielocks
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thanx, shaq-fu. i have given up the idea as too expensive, as noted in all my return mail. perhaps i'll add on instead.
thanx, again: oldielocks
jatfromklb
New Member
basement deepening
thanks frenchie. i've decided to bag the idea. far too expensive.
oldielocks
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thanks frenchie. i've decided to bag the idea. far too expensive.
oldielocks
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