Underpinning Winnipeg: Can Your Basement Go Deeper?

Underpinning Winnipeg homeowners ask about is often a way to get a taller basement. People in this city have asked online whether others have lowered a basement by underpinning or by benching, and how it went.

Call [PHONE] and tell us what you want the space for.

Why do people lower a basement?

They want more room. A low ceiling can make a basement hard to use, and a deeper floor can turn it into a space the whole family will want to spend time in.

What should you ask before you start?

This kind of work touches the part of the house that holds everything up, so take your time with the questions.

• Should this house be underpinned, or is benching a better fit?
• Will an engineer draw up the plan?
• Who gets the city permit, you or the contractor?
• How long will the basement be out of use?
• What will you put in writing about the work once it is done?

Ask every contractor you talk to the same questions, so you can compare their answers side by side.

What will the contractor want to know?

They will want to see it. It also helps to know how old the house is, whether the walls have cracks, and whether water has ever come in. Have that ready, along with any old reports from when you bought the house.

How is this different from fixing a sinking house?

Lowering a basement is about making room. If your floors slope or a corner of the house has sunk, that is a different problem, and our page on house leveling is the better place to start. You can also read about screw piles.

Questions people ask

Do I need an engineer?

Ask the person who quotes the job, and check with the city about permits before any work starts. Our inspection page explains when people call an engineer, and our page on foundation repair in Winnipeg covers other problems.

Why is there no price here?

Every basement is different. Our cost guide lists what changes a quote.

Call about your basement

Measure the height of your basement ceiling before you call, and think about how you want to use the room once it is done. Then call [PHONE].