Basement Lowering in Toronto and the GTA

Basement Lowering Contractors With 15 Years of Experience

Waterproofing PD lowers basement floors across Toronto and the GTA, and we have been doing it since 2010, first as Edko Enterprise. Basement lowering is structural work, so every project runs on stamped engineering drawings, a City of Toronto building permit, and a crew that is licensed, insured, and WSIB-covered.

• Fifteen years of basement lowering projects. A family business that has underpinned and benched basements in semis, bungalows and row houses across the city.
• Waterproofers first. Weeping tile, a sump pump and a sealed vapour barrier are built into the dig, not sold afterward.
• Published pricing. Real per-square-foot and per-linear-foot numbers, with an itemized estimate inside 24 hours of the inspection.
• Permit-ready from day one. Structural drawings, the permit application and city inspections are handled for you.
• HomeStars Best of Award winner. Backed by a lifetime transferable warranty on waterproofing under the Supreme Waterproofing Package.

Create More Ceiling Height in an Older Toronto Home

Most older basements here were never meant to be lived in. A Leslieville semi from the 1920s often has six feet under the joists, and once ducting is in the way the basement feels lower still. Basement lowering, done as basement underpinning, is the only way to change that number, and on most basement lowering projects and basement underpinning projects we reach eight feet or more of finished basement height and real usable space.

During the free inspection, we measure from the joists to the slab, find the floor drain and the main sanitary line, and check how deep the original footings sit. Those three numbers decide the achievable ceiling height before anyone picks up a shovel, and they tell you how much usable square footage the finished basement will hold, whether the plan is a family room, a home office or a rental unit.

What the Basement Lowering Process Looks Like on Site

Basement underpinning is structural work on the foundation itself, and the sequence matters more than the speed. Nothing comes out until the drawings from a licensed structural engineer and the building permit are in place.

• Inspection and measurement. We assess the existing foundation walls, soil conditions, drain locations and existing basement height, then agree the target depth.
• Engineering and application. A licensed structural engineer prepares stamped structural drawings and we file the permit application with the city.
• Removing the concrete floor. The old slab comes out, leaving access to the existing foundation walls and the existing footings.
• Staged excavation. Soil is removed in numbered sections, never the central floor area in one go, so the structure stays supported through the whole structural process.
• New concrete footings. Each section gets deeper concrete footings in a leapfrog sequence that protects the home’s structural integrity.
• Drainage and the new slab. Weeping tile, gravel, a sump pump and a vapour barrier go in before the new concrete slab is poured.

Our underpinning crew is WSIB covered and AODA, WHMIS and WHSA certified, and finishing trades can start once the slab has cured.

Average Basement Lowering Costs in Toronto

For basement lowering in Toronto, owners can budget against our published numbers. Basement lowering cost in Toronto generally runs $30 to $80 per square foot, and the basement underpinning cost lands between roughly $350 and $600 per linear foot depending on depth, access, and soil conditions.

• A 600 sq ft basement in an east-end semi. Tight rear access and soil removal by hand across all 600 sq ft. With the permit application and engineering counted, roughly $18,000 to $30,000 for the structural work.
• A 1,200 sq ft detached home in North York. Machine access, an eight-foot target across 1,200 sq ft and a bathroom rough-in push this past $50,000, in line with typical basement underpinning cost across the GTA.

We offer clear, itemized basement underpinning estimates with no hidden fees and competitive pricing in Toronto. Your quote outlines the engineering, city permits, drainage system, soil disposal, and interior finishing requirements so you know exactly what is included.

Permits and Approval Time for Basement Lowering Work

Lowering a basement floor is structural work in the eyes of the City of Toronto, so a building permit is mandatory and permit drawings must be stamped by a licensed structural engineer. Permit approval time varies by ward and season, and it is the one part of the schedule no contractor controls.

Legal basement apartments also need fire separation and a compliant egress window, which we install in-house alongside underpinning basement footings on your underpinning project.

How Toronto Soil and Water Conditions Affect Your Basement

The ground here is mostly glacial till, a dense mix of clay, silt, sand and the occasional boulder. Clay holds water and swells, sandy pockets run and need shoring, and soil conditions change from one side of a street to the other, which is why two basement lowering projects on the same block can price differently.

Dropping the basement floor also puts the new concrete slab closer to the water table, so the drainage system is part of the structural work rather than an extra:

• Weeping tile at the new footing level, set as the pins are completed.
• Drainage pipes to a sized pit, matched to the volume the house actually sees.
• A reconnected drain and a sealed vapour barrier under the entire pour, which is what delivers real flood prevention.

More Space and Value With Basement Lowering

• Livable space you already own. Extra living space without touching the yard or roofline, all finished living space: a family room, an office, a gym or a rental suite.
• Expanded usable square footage. Additional living space below grade lifts property value across Toronto neighbourhoods, and appraisers price that property value gain in at sale.
• A stronger foundation. New footings reach stable soil, restoring structural integrity, adding usable space and providing structural support if a second storey is coming.
• Not sure where to start? Book a free in-home inspection and we will provide a report and an estimate for your basement lowering project in Toronto.

Find Out What Your Lower Level Could Become

Fifteen minutes in the basement tells us more than an hour on the phone. Book a free inspection and we will measure the ceiling height you have, explain the basement height you could have, and put a written estimate in your hands within 24 hours. Call (416) 333-8222 or email info@waterproofingpd.ca, and ask about the 5% discount for seniors and first responders.

Basement Lowering Questions Homeowners Ask: