Basement Underpinning in Toronto & GTA
Avoid Costly Repairs: Address Foundation Problems Early
Foundation problems, such as visible cracks and water damage, can dramatically lower your home’s market value. These issues may deter potential buyers or make refinancing a challenge. A stable and well-maintained foundation is essential for preserving your property’s worth
Strengthen, Enhance, and Protect Your Home
At CTA Contracting, we offer a comprehensive, cost-effective package that combines underpinning, basement waterproofing, and concrete finishing, an all-in-one solution designed to strengthen your foundation, protect your home from water damage, and provide a polished, durable concrete slab—all at a competitive price. To ensure your project is tailored to your needs, we supply an on-site engineer to discuss cost-efficient solutions for your home.
Need Some extra space? DIG DEEPER!
Space is one of the most valuable things in any home, and no matter how big your house is, you can always use more. While many homeowners have options such as additions, or adding a second floor, these options often come with high costs, long waiting time for permits and delays in finding the right contractor for each trade. There’s a smater and more cost-effective solution: dig deeper and build lower. Basement underpinning allows you to lower your basement floor and unlock livable space that’s already within your home’s area. Unlike home additions, you don’t lose backyard space or compromise your garden and landscaping needs, while also not needing to drastically alter the structure of your home or trigger a increase in property taxes. Underpinning is efficient, practical and adds real value your home.
Trusted Family Owned & Operated Basement Underpinning experts since 1997
At CTA Contracting, we take pride in being one of the most reliable and experienced names in concrete, excavation, waterproofing and foundation repair providing basement underpining services in Toronto and the GTA since 1997. Having served over 15,000+ customers, we are the most trusted basement underpinning company in Toronto.
CTA Contracting has served Hamilton, Mississauga, Oakville, Pickering, Newmarket, Etobicoke, Milton and surrounding areas since 1997.
Decades of Experience – Fixing Foundations, Saving Homes!
From homeowners to developers – Trust CTA to secure your foundation and protect your investment!
Why Homeowners Should choose basement underpinning
Basement underpinning involves carefully excavating beneath your existing foundation walls and extending the footings deeper into stable soil. Basement underpinning strengthens your home’s structual support while allowing you to lower the basement floor and increase ceiling height. Temporary jacks are used to keep the structure stable during each phase, and once the new footing is poured and cured, we install new interior waterproofing systems, and a new concrete slab.
Homeowners across the GTA choose underpinning for many reasons. Typically in older homes, orginial footings may no longer be strong enough to support the home or future renovations. However in the mind of most homeowners, the goal of underpinning a home is to create more livable, full-height space either for a family room, or a rental unit. Underpinning not only improvies the structual integrity of your home, but also adds significant value to your property, especially when combined with a separate basement walkout or legal apartment conversion.
Whether you’re planning to finish your basement, prevent foundation issues, or simply gain more usable space without expanding your home’s footprint, underpinning is a smart, long-term investment.
Discover Hidden Issues Before They Become Big Problems
During the underpinning process, your basement floor is excavated and disposed of, giving full access to the foundation and waterproofing systems below. This allows contractors to inspect critical elements like waterproofing, plumbing and structural supports. Any needed repairs such as cracks, corrosion, aging pipes, can be identified and repaired during the basement underpinning process, saving homeowners from costly repairs in the future.
Increase Basement Height for Maximum Usable Space
Increasing your basement ceiling height through underpinning is one of the most effective ways to create more livable space in your home. Many older homes in Toronto, and other GTA communities were built with low basement ceilings that fall short of modern standards. By lowering the basement floor using underpinning methods, you can achieve full, code compliant ceiling height.
Add Property value to your home
Basement underpinning isn't just about gaining space, underpinning is also a smart investment. By creating a full height basement and reinforce your home's structure you're significantly increasing its overall value. Renovated basements with underpinning and separate basement walkouts are highly desirable feautures for homebuyers, especially in Toronto, Oakville and Pickering. Whether you plan to sell or stay, underpinning boosts your market value, property's appeal and functionality.
Basement Underpinning: how it's done
01
/ Design, Drawings & Permits
Contact a Licensed Structural Engineer for Design & Drawings
The first step in any underpinning project is to hire a licensed strucural engineer. They will visit your propery, assess existing foundation conditions and create detailed engineering drawings that will be submitted to the city for permits. Once the design drawings are complete, the next steps is to obtain underpinning permits to begin construction. At CTA Contracting, we assist you through this entire process to ensure smooth approval processes and efficent timelines to get the underpinning of your basement done.
02
/ Jacks & Support Beams
Support Installation
To ensure the stability of your home during construction and excavation, temporary jacks and/or support beams are carefully installed on existing cross beams for support, to maintain stability throught the underpinning process.
03
/ Construction
Excavation and Underpinning
Underpinning is done in staged sections also called phases, to avoid destabilizing the structural integrity of your home. The existing basement concrete slab is removed, and excavation beneath the existing footings begin. After excavation, new concrete footings are poured in one at a time.
04
/ Waterproofing Systems
Interior Waterproofing
Once all underpinning phases are complete, we install a new interior waterproofing system which include the installation of a sump pump in the corner of the basement connected to a weeping tile that runs along the perimeter of the basement. Delta membrane will also be fastened all around the perimeter of the foundation walls to protect your home against future water damage and moisture intrusion.
05
/ Concrete
new Basement Concrete Slab
After the underpinning and installation of the waterproofing systems, we will lay a 4-6 inch gravel base to promote drainage and prepare the surface for the new concrete slab. A new reinforced concrete slab is poured to complete the basement floor. Homeowners also have the option to install rigid foam insulation beneath the new concrete slab to help regulate basement temperature.
Be Aware of Foundation Damage
- Uneven/Cracked Floors
- Cracks on Walls
- Gaps Between Walls & Floors
- Nail Heads Surfacing
- Foundation Settlement
- Cracks In Foundation Walls
- Sinking Foundation
- Cracked or Bulging Chimneys
Why Choose CTA Contracting?
COST-EFFICIENT
FAQs about basement underpinning
WHAT IS BASEMENT UNDERPINNING?
Basement underpinning is a structural process where the foundation of a home is reinforced and lowered to increase ceiling height, stengthen the structure and add more living space. Commonly done in older Toronto home to create full height basements and rental units while improving the foundation’s stability.
HOW MUCH DOES BASEMENT UNDERPINNING COST IN TORONTO?
The cost of underpinning a basement in Toronto typically ranges from $300 to $600 per linear foot, depending on the depth, soil conditions, access and structural complexity where shoring may be needed. On average, a full underpinning project may cost anywhere from $25,000-$60,000 or more. At CTA Contracting, we offer a comprehensive package that includes excavation, underpinning, basement waterproofing and a new basement concrete slab at a competitive price.
HOW LONG DOES THE UNDERPINNING PROCESS TAKE?
Most basement underpinning projects take between 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the size of the basement, number of underpinning phases, permit approval time and additional factors like waterproofing or plumbing relocation.
IS BASEMENT UNDERPINNING SAFE?
When performed by fully licensed, insured and experienced contractors like CTA Contracting, basement underpinning is a safe and effective way to increase livable space. It is important for contractors to consistently communite with structural engineers and drawing to pass city inspections and ensure your home remains secure throughout the project.
DO I NEED A PERMIT TO UNDERPIN MY BASEMENT?
Yes, a building permit is required for all underpinning and basement lowering work. CTA Contracting will coordinate with structural engineers and your local municipality to ensure your project is fully compliant with the Ontario Building Code.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BASEMENT UNDERPINNING?
Underpinning increases basement ceiling height, adds livable space, allows for legal basement apartments, increases property value and reinforces your foundation structure. Underpinning is one of the highest ROI home improvements in the real estate market, as other forms of home improvements like a side, rear or second floor addition is followed with an increase in property taxes.
Schedule A Free On Site/Home Inspection Today
CTA has been prioritzing safety and lasting underpinning solutions since 1997. Reach out today for a free consultation!