Underpinning Services in Toronto

Often, the potential of basement spaces in Toronto homes is not fully utilized by their residents. Low ceilings are often to blame, making basements suitable only for storing rarely used items. Thanks to Toronto underpinning, the basement can be transformed into an additional fully functional space. The work begins with clearing out all belongings and then demolishing walls, floors, and finishes. This is necessary to prepare the space for contractors since a cleared area provides a better view of the layout and ways to modify it.

Once you have architectural drawings and permits from city authorities, your basement will be conditionally divided into vertical sections, usually labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4. These sections indicate the areas that need to be excavated. These sections form the structure of the basement’s foundation. After these sections meet the standard, they are filled with concrete at the agreed-upon lowered level.

After removing the concrete slabs from the basement, soil excavation beneath the foundation begins. This increases the basement’s height, implying a substantial amount of work that likely requires special equipment. To efficiently remove excavated soil from the basement, belt conveyors or wheelbarrows can be used. The choice of soil removal method depends on access to the basement.

Transforming the basement requires the removal of existing concrete structures. It’s no secret that the demolition of such structures is a laborious and meticulous process. The most challenging part is removing concrete slabs – for this, professionals first need to identify the utilities’ locations and measure the existing floor’s thickness. Additional equipment may be required to facilitate the demolition process if it’s more than 4 inches thick or reinforced. The thickness and type of reinforcement can be determined from the broken edges.

Conducting inspections at each stage of the work is crucial to prevent threats to the overall building’s integrity. The integrity of the walls or load-bearing columns is vital for the successful outcome of the underpinning Toronto process. To guarantee compliance with basement lowering standards, a licensed engineer or city inspector signs off on the completion of the work. We collaborate closely with licensed engineers who perform regular inspections at each stage. So, you can rest assured that the work is carried out in accordance with the approved project and established standards.

You probably know that basements are more prone to water accumulation than any other part of the house. Therefore, after laying the foundation, it’s necessary to install a robust and reliable drainage system. After discussing all possible details and options with you, we will connect new drains and ensure they function as intended by testing their ability to drain under pressure. This allows us to ensure that there are no potential leaks and that all plumbing connections work as they should.

Water leaks from below ground level are just one of the problems you need to address. Groundwater and rainwater can also seep from below the ground, causing damage to the integrity of your basement. Waterproofing is the next step to combat water leaks. Before backfilling with gravel over the soil, our team installs a waterproof delta foundation, ensuring you never have to deal with water leakage problems in the basement.

Since the basement is literally “underground,” sunlight does not reach it, making it constantly damp and cold, not to mention the concrete slabs that form the basis of the floor. An excellent solution for improving the basement is the installation of warm floors, which will spread warmth to other parts of the space. What does this give you? At the very least, you can finally forget about humidity problems and, as a result, the appearance of dangerous mold in the basement.

Due to heavy rainfall, the city’s drainage infrastructure may struggle to handle the volume of stormwater, which can lead to flooding and basement inundation. To prevent this, it is recommended to dig a sump pit and install a sump pump before pouring the concrete floor slabs.

Once all plumbing and electrical systems are installed, our specialists pour concrete. Beneath the concrete is a layer of gravel, covered with a sheet of waterproofing to prevent moisture from reaching the floor slab. Then, any defects in the slab are corrected using leveling, followed by cleaning and the final cleanup of the space.