Hello, I tried researching my question and haven’t seen a response quite like my scenario. I bought a house 26×24 roughly with a basement and the home had an addition build on the back wall 18 by 18ft joist spanning the length of the addition. The space below the addition was not dug out. Assuming they dug down to place the footings at basement level(otherwise the project would be too big and not worth it) what would the scope of the project be to dig out the dirt and pour a concrete floor(no plumbing or anything special would be needed in this area). Would I need to brace walls as I go or could I clear it out backfill with sand and pour concrete and be done?
Thanks in advance for the help
Travis
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I would not assume they dug down further than they needed to for the frost line, and even then I wouldn't assume it was done right. I don't know anyone who would dig footings for a basement and then just keep it a crawl space. A lot of unnecessary work and expense that few would undertake, it seems.
Yeah, I am not assuming much beyond the minimum on this, the kids built it for their parents to have a bedroom on main floor as the parents were getting old. Frost line is around 5ft here, so I was hoping in this case they decided to go the extra few feet for the possibility of a basement, just didn’t want to put the extra $5k+ into the concrete and excavation. I am mainly wondering if they did go that extra few feet what the excavation would entail to be able to pour concrete or if so much shoring is needed that it wouldn’t even be worth the task.
My neighbor's house was built with half a basement, he dug out the other side with buckets and shovels. (he made it a project with his growing boys)
the footings were and are not deep enough to be at the level of a basement floor, but he was able (after consultation with a strict building codes department) to step the wall out past the existing footings, and have a basement with a built-in step a couple feet high around the perimeter.
The important points are to maintain undisturbed soil below the existing foundation and a little more (details matter).
do you have access to the crawl space? How high are the floor joists above the ground level?
would you do this work, or hire it out?
That is good information, it is a big enough space that it wouldn’t hurt it to lose 18” around the perimeter.
Floor joist are about 20” above the soil in what would be the basement.
I would do at least the excavation myself and possibly hire out the concrete pour or all of the concrete work. I have access to some walk behind track loaded that I think would make this not to bad a job.
queue the motivational music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRh0QiXyZSk
The trickiest part may be cutting into the wall to the existing basement. You want to make sure the house above is supported during and after your project.
does the basement have a walk-out? If not, you might want to consider renting a conveyor to help remove the dirt.