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In
recent years throughout the Toronto GTA,
Basement Lowering, or Underpinning has
become an increasingly popular renovation
project due to the many older, existing homes
that contain low overhead height in the basement.
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By extending this height through the downward extension of the foundation
walls, extra space is
made available for a home office,
personal use or additional income with the construction
of a Basement Apartment.
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However,
this is highly specialized work, and you should exercise caution when hiring a
contractor. The majority of general contractors are inexperienced in this type of
structural
modification, given the fact that Basement Lowering
(underpinning) has only recently become
a more recognized and viable method of adding much needed
living space to an older home.
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Stamped Drawings:
To obtain a permit, you must have a completed set of
architectural
drawings that have been officially stamped by an approved
Structural Engineer. This provides evidence that your home has
been examined by an accredited authority with regards to how
certain structural modifications (such as underpinning) may
affect the load/weight balance of your home.
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The Renovation Co-op now offers a separate, one-stop Architectural
Planning &
Design Service that includes the following:
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*
Architectural Design
* Interior Design
* Professional Measuring
* Floor Plans
* Landscape Design |
*
Structural Engineering
* Permit Applications
* 3D Architectural Renderings
* 3D Interior Renderings
* Home Staging |
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for details, go to: www.WeRenovate.com/Planning.htm |
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Pricing for Multiple Services |
The main advantage in purchasing your own separate
drawings is that you will own the
drawings,
which gives
you the freedom to obtain more than one precise estimate.
(For
structural modification work including Basement Underpinning, “guesstimating”
the
cost can become highly inaccurate without a proper
structural engineering report.)
Note: If you purchase your stamped drawings through The
Renovation Co-op, and you
wind up hiring an approved Co-op member to perform the work, you will receive an
architectural drawing credit of up to
$1,500.
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Obtaining the Permit:
FYI:
Homeowners
are always responsible for obtaining permits. However, a contractor or structural engineer
may act as your representative and apply for the permit on your
behalf.
If you do not use our Permit Application Service as part
of your purchase for the drawings, we recommend that the
contractor whom you ultimately select to perform the work applies for the
permit. |
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Here
are the reasons:
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1. The inspector at the permit desk is likely to ask the
person who is applying for the permit several technical questions about the work that is being applied for.
The contractor that you finally select to perform the
work will likely have the most familiarity with your project,
and should be able to answer all questions on the spot,
without having to make multiple visits back and forth to the permit office.
2- In addition, most seasoned contractors know the
importance of relationship
building
between themselves and the inspector desk at the permit
office. When an inspector encounters an “unfamiliar face”,
he or she may “over-scrutinize” someone that they have not
seen before. It may be unfair to some of the newer,
less-experienced general contractors, but it is the reality of
that process.
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Selecting a Contractor...
With so many contractors and sub-trades claiming to be
"experts"
in the underpinning of basements, many homeowners get
confused, intimidated, and downright scared due to
inconsistencies in the information they are receiving about
basement underpinning and other structural work.
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As The Renovation Co-op acts primarily as a facilitator and
administrative support team for its contractor-members, our goal is to
build more standardization and professionalism into the
industry, not to criticize or point fingers at outside
contractors.
In fact, as a working model for the entire
country, we prefer to build long-lasting relationships with as
many quality-minded, professional contractors as possible.
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