When you say the word “underpinning” you typically get two common responses. The first one is “what’s that?” This was my response the first time I heard the word underpinning. I have spent the last 8 years of my life building in South Carolina where our foundations only go 12” below the ground, and the water table is not much further past that. Underpinning to me was unheard of and having basements was a rarity. The second response is usually one of fear, and maybe rightfully so.

The Fears of Underpinning

You see there are two types of fear. There is a debilitating fear, or a fear that keeps you away from something, and sometimes that’s healthy. To be afraid of a poisonous snake, for example, would probably be a good fear to have. I think it would be wise to just stay as far away from them as possible. But then there is the other kind of fear, and that might better be described as reverence or respect. You see, I am by trade a cabinetmaker, and I have a respect for my table saw. It can do a lot of damage to me if not treated properly and that respect can keep me out of danger. If I allow it to be debilitating I am not able to make cabinets or furniture. You see the difference?

So why are we talking about fear? I thought this was a blog about underpinning. Well, underpinning is something to be respected and not something to be taken lightly. There is a lot at stake when you start to dig the foundation out from under your house. It’s not a task to be taken lightly. Is it worth even doing then? Absolutely, because the benefits far outweigh the fears, like being able to reclaim invaluable living space and even better, valuable real estate square footage.

So how can we manage the dangers of such a dangerous job? Well, the easy answer is get a reputable company to do the work for you, and that for sure is a huge piece of the equation. So, how do you choose the best underpinner?

Understanding the Underpinning Process

First, scope out the underpinner. Make sure he explains the process, and make sure you have a basic understanding of it. If he tells you “don’t worry about it” or seems like he doesn’t know what he is talking about, run. You are likely going to be working with him for the next 6-8 weeks. Make sure he can communicate with you about what’s being done. Make sure he returns your calls. Get some references and pictures from previous jobs. If you don’t have a clue what you’re looking for, look to see how clean and orderly his job site is. This will give you some insight into how organized the company is. I like to make sure they look professional. The more comfortable you feel with the company, the better. This needs to be someone that you trust. This will be the difference between a good night’s sleep and lying awake hoping everything will go smoothly.

Acquiring the Necessary Permits

Second, do you have engineered drawings specific to your house and do you have a permit? I know pulling permits can be a pain in the butt sometimes, and most of the time it will add time to your project, but it’s the law. Also, while the city can slow things down, they are there to catch things that the average homeowner and sometimes builder will miss. They are on your side. If the underpinner is doing something wrong or dangerous, the inspector will likely catch it and force the underpinner to fix it before moving ahead giving you some accountability for he underpinner. If someone comes along and tries to convince you not to pull permits, run.

Finally, ask the underpinner about his timeline. If he is telling you he can do it in a few weeks that is not a good thing. Obviously every job is different, so every job’s timeframe will vary, but if you’re getting several quotes ask everyone quoting how long they think it should take. If one guy is several weeks faster than another, that is a red flag. Underpinning is a process you don’t want to rush. Concrete takes time to harden and when it does, it shrinks. If they are going too fast, the concrete may not be ready to carry the load right away and this could cause serious problems. This seems to be the area people are most often willing to ignore. Let’s face it, having construction going on for a long period of time and having guys in and out of your house is not an enjoyable process, and you would like to make it as quick a process as possible.

All in all, underpinning is a great option, but a process that needs to be respected. Be involved and make sure you understand what’s going on. Make sure you’re protected with permits and a good set of plans so you can know the job has been done right and don’t rush the process.