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Interesting-Past7738 t1_ja9pq89 wrote

You need to get an assessment from a structural engineer.

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thecarpenter t1_jaa6fvd wrote

This is the way. I do this day in day out with geo's and structural firms. Depending on what finding they arrive at will determine the scope. This could turn out be a very costly build. Without any information of your situation I could loosely suggest that you wall off the slab edge with a standard exterior envelope if you can justify the that the slab square footage will benefit what you're after.

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Internet-of-cruft t1_jaasz8h wrote

You absolutely cannot dig out that dirt on your own without some proper support. If you just try doing this on your own you might have the structure collapse on you.

A structural engineer can tell you if it can be done and specific methods for supporting the home during the dig out.

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merc08 t1_jabf6in wrote

I have a crawlspace under my house instead of a basement. Is it theoretically possible to get it reengineered and dug out to a full height basement or is that just a recipe for collapsing the house?

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AttorneyAdvice t1_jabvql5 wrote

yes, just make sure to watch some YouTube videos before you do

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ClassBShareHolder t1_jacdwgl wrote

They move houses all the time. You can absolutely lift the house, put a full basement, and set it back. The question is, is it worth the cost?

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Lord_Quail t1_jacisk8 wrote

Underpinning is generally the best option for that. But connect with an experienced contractor in your area.

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Megas3300 t1_jae851h wrote

It can be done, basically lifting the house off the foundation, and rebuilding it(or just making the foundation taller).

On a smaller scale It’s been done to homes around me to get 1-2 more cinderblock layers in the basement to make it more habitable. I know of at least one case where somebody did this by themselves with a whole bunch of harbor freight bottle jacks.

I’ve also seen where an entirely new basement/foundation was installed adjacent to the home, the house moved on to the new foundation, and the old foundation then demolished.

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Direct_Big_5436 t1_jacgvps wrote

You can back pour cement walls using a “shutter box” and have a full basement. It will take some engineering and I would hire a contractor that specializes in doing such.

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