Ceiling Problems

[Tom919]

Hello!

This may sound like a silly question but I haven’t seen many answers on the forum.

I am slowly looking for a new home and it seems all the choices are with 8 foot ceilings. Odds are I can have a basement room that have the other size dimensions but the height. Is there any way to “dig” into the ground for where to swing and create the 10 feet height requirement? If so how much would a job like that cost?

any other potential suggestions?

Thank you!

[weakhead]

It's called underpinning and I know I've read a thread on here about someone doing it, but I can't find it .

http://nusitegroup.com/what-is-basement-underpinning/

[Sim-dreamer]

I looked into it a while ago and it is INSANELY expensive. It is way cheaper to build a backyard structure or, in most cases, an addition to your home. The depth you can go will also not be your choice, it will be based on an engineers assessment and where your main drain line enters your house. The benefit of building fresh or adding on vs underpinning is obviously cost, but also you can change dimensions, electrical, conduits for cords etc etc. I do know one guy who did his own underpinning for a basement, but it took him months to do it and he is a former contractor with the contacts/friends/tools that go along with that. It certainly can be done, but I'd get a whole bunch of quotes on every option first.

[Golfallday1983]

I looked into it a while ago and it is INSANELY expensive. It is way cheaper to build a backyard structure or, in most cases, an addition to your home. The depth you can go will also not be your choice, it will be based on an engineers assessment and where your main drain line enters your house. The benefit of building fresh or adding on vs underpinning is obviously cost, but also you can change dimensions, electrical, conduits for cords etc etc. I do know one guy who did his own underpinning for a basement, but it took him months to do it and he is a former contractor with the contacts/friends/tools that go along with that. It certainly can be done, but I'd get a whole bunch of quotes on every option first.

I hear it’s about 10k?

[azbball11]

I did this about 1 year ago. My costs were about $5,000 including the concrete work, sump pit, and other supplies. I did most of the work myself other than the concrete work which was about half the total cost. They did the concrete in one day. The digging and hauling is extremely hard work as it takes time. I have large windows in my lower level which I was able to use a conveyor belt out the window to my tractor bucket. Then I was able to haul the sand and rock out to my woods. I had a pretty decent setup which kept costs down as not having to haul the materials away off site and I stayed away from the foundation and footers to avoid the underpinning.

I dug down about 2 feet from original floor, added drain tile, gravel and concrete. I had 9 ft ceilings to begin with and wanted the extra 12" plus. Before even considering this, I would talk to an engineer and the concrete guys as well as being aware of any ground water issues below the house. This will be your lowest part of the house more than likely so water will run to this spot.