If your basement has low ceilings, a dirt floor, or just isn't usable, underpinning can change that. Kelley Construction excavates and lowers existing basement floors to create full-height living space — turning a crawl space or a 5-foot ceiling into a proper room. It's one of the best ways to add square footage to a Pittsburgh home without building an addition.
Underpinning is structural work. We excavate in controlled sections, pour new footings below the existing foundation depth, and build up from there. The existing foundation is supported at all times. We integrate waterproofing, drainage, and vapor barriers into every underpinning project because there's no point lowering a basement if it floods.
Most projects gain 2-4 feet of headroom. We've taken 5-foot basements down to full 8-foot ceilings. The amount depends on your existing foundation depth, soil conditions, and your target ceiling height.
Yes, when done correctly. We excavate and pour in alternating sections so the existing foundation is always supported. This is a well-established structural technique used on buildings worldwide.
A typical single-family home takes 4-8 weeks depending on the scope. Larger homes or full-house underpinning can take longer. We'll give you a detailed timeline during the estimate.
Yes. Basement underpinning requires a building permit and typically stamped engineering drawings. We handle the entire permit process for you.
