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Basement Construction

A solid, dry basement, built from the ground down.

Excavation, foundations, underpinning and walkouts — the structural work that creates usable space below grade and keeps it dry for good.

Residential service

Everything above it depends on the foundation.

Whether it is a new basement under a new home, lowering an existing floor for more headroom or opening a walkout to the yard, basement construction is structural work. We handle the engineering, permits, excavation, concrete and waterproofing as one contract, so the space is sound and dry before a single wall is framed.

  • Excavation, footings and foundation walls
  • Underpinning and floor lowering for headroom
  • Walkouts, egress windows and new openings
  • Exterior waterproofing, weeping tile and sump

What's included

What basement construction includes.

Every project is scoped and priced before we start.

Engineering

Structural design for walls, beams, openings and underpinning.

Permits

Building permits and inspections booked and cleared at each stage.

Excavation

Digging, shoring and soil removal, with neighbours and utilities protected.

Foundations

Footings, poured walls and slabs formed and placed to engineered specs.

Waterproofing

Membranes, weeping tile, drainage board and sump systems.

Ready to finish

A dry, insulated, inspected shell ready for development or a suite.

How it runs

How the work runs.

Walkthrough and brief

We see the space, hear what you want and tell you honestly what is realistic for the budget you have in mind.

Design and selections

Drawings, materials and finishes agreed and priced before demolition — not chosen under pressure halfway through.

Permits and schedule

Permits submitted and followed through, trades booked in the order the build actually needs them.

Build, clean

Dust barriers, floor protection and a swept site every night, because you are usually still living in the house.

Walkthrough and warranty

We walk it with you, fix the list, and hand over the warranty paperwork. Your sign-off is what ends the job.

Below grade

Water and soil decide the budget, not the square footage.

What is in the ground sets the cost of a basement. High groundwater, clay that swells and shrinks, a neighbour’s foundation close to the line or a sewer running shallow can each change how we dig, shore and drain the space.

We investigate the site before pricing — soil, drainage, utilities and the existing structure — so the number you sign is based on what is actually there rather than an allowance that grows once the digging starts.

  • Soil conditions and groundwater checked before excavation
  • Shoring and underpinning sequenced to protect adjacent structures
  • Exterior waterproofing and drainage installed while the walls are open
  • Ceiling heights and egress planned for a future legal suite

Common questions

Questions we get asked most.

Anything not covered here, just ask on the call.

How long does basement construction take?

Excavation and foundations for a new basement typically take four to eight weeks, depending on soil, weather and inspection timing. Underpinning an existing home takes longer because it is done in sequenced sections.

Can you lower our existing basement floor?

Usually, through underpinning or benching. It is engineered work done in stages to keep the house supported, and it is the most reliable way to gain the headroom a legal suite needs.

Can you add a walkout to our basement?

Often, if the grade allows. It means cutting a new opening in the foundation with an engineered header, plus exterior grading and drainage — all of which we handle and permit.

Will the basement stay dry?

We waterproof from the outside while the walls are exposed, with membranes, drainage board, weeping tile and a sump where needed. That is far more effective than trying to stop water from the inside later.

Start your project

Planning basement construction?

Free consultation · honest estimate · no pressure.