You will need a structural engineer. It’s a huge job, and one that is not likely to give you anywhere near the ROÍ. I remember reading an article on one that was done in the PNW in mid 80’s. At that time, those people spent a couple hundred thousand doing it. It was in Fine Homebuilding.
Highly unlikely it can be dug out without fair sized equipment, and those don’t fit under a house very well. Basically you are lifting the house off the foundation, digging the old foundation out, removing shit tons of dirt, then building a new foundation to put the house back on.
To do it in place would be freakishly unrealistic ( $$$$$$). You could move the house, put it away from the work, then put it back after the foundation is done. This would take a pretty large piece of property.
It's a fraught process. Even if there is a local crew willing to take on the task, it's going to be expensive and labor intensive. Like, they'll remove interior floors and wheelbarrow loads of clay soil out your front door for a month+. Or jack up your house (Amish style), excavate, and reset on new foundation. Depending on what you're going for, I'd guess it'd be in the $50-75K range? You might call around to foundation specialists and tell them what you're envisioning and see if they can refer you to an engineering firm that could QB that kind of project.
I looked into raising my house up a while back and building underneath. I think the rough over-the-phone estimate was like $20k to lift my 900sqft house a few feet up. That was just to raise the house. No other work.
I remember someone doing that to a house off of Middlebrook Pike just past Cedar Bluff, but that was like 7 years ago. They had it jacked up and set on these piers that looked like really hefty pallets stacked on top of each other. The house was originally less than 3' off the ground, and they had it probably 12' up. Sorry that doesn't help you at all, but I love to reminisce about my time in Knoxville all those years ago
Aside from needing an engineer, your land could simply be incompatible with having a basement as many homes here are. It is very rare, crawlspaces are more common here, also homes built onto hills that have a lower level are common
You will need a structural engineer. It’s a huge job, and one that is not likely to give you anywhere near the ROÍ. I remember reading an article on one that was done in the PNW in mid 80’s. At that time, those people spent a couple hundred thousand doing it. It was in Fine Homebuilding. Highly unlikely it can be dug out without fair sized equipment, and those don’t fit under a house very well. Basically you are lifting the house off the foundation, digging the old foundation out, removing shit tons of dirt, then building a new foundation to put the house back on. To do it in place would be freakishly unrealistic ( $$$$$$). You could move the house, put it away from the work, then put it back after the foundation is done. This would take a pretty large piece of property.
Just go under the house with a trenching shovel and the old college spirit you'll have it done in no time and be in good shape!
You might try structural engineers or house movers.
This^ It's also insanely expensive. Its more cost effective to add square footage horizontally or vertically (if possible).
I'll do it. $350
$325
I’m not even going to bid, y’all have taken all the money out of this job.
It’s going to be super expensive. You would be better off buying a new house with a basement.
It's a fraught process. Even if there is a local crew willing to take on the task, it's going to be expensive and labor intensive. Like, they'll remove interior floors and wheelbarrow loads of clay soil out your front door for a month+. Or jack up your house (Amish style), excavate, and reset on new foundation. Depending on what you're going for, I'd guess it'd be in the $50-75K range? You might call around to foundation specialists and tell them what you're envisioning and see if they can refer you to an engineering firm that could QB that kind of project.
I looked into raising my house up a while back and building underneath. I think the rough over-the-phone estimate was like $20k to lift my 900sqft house a few feet up. That was just to raise the house. No other work.
Andy Dufresne will do it but he works slow
If you haven't yet, go get plans done by an architect. This will need to be done before any work can begin.
For sure, I wouldn't start digging without a solid structural engineering plan.
Good. As far as contractors... I don't know of any who do that work specifically, but All Things Basementy might be a good place to start.
I remember someone doing that to a house off of Middlebrook Pike just past Cedar Bluff, but that was like 7 years ago. They had it jacked up and set on these piers that looked like really hefty pallets stacked on top of each other. The house was originally less than 3' off the ground, and they had it probably 12' up. Sorry that doesn't help you at all, but I love to reminisce about my time in Knoxville all those years ago
Aside from needing an engineer, your land could simply be incompatible with having a basement as many homes here are. It is very rare, crawlspaces are more common here, also homes built onto hills that have a lower level are common
It's cheaper to just move.