Transforming a Crawl Space Into a Basement

Whether it is turning a garage into a home office, an unfinished attic into a game room, or an outdoor patio into a screened-in porch, there are many ways to transform spaces around our homes. Some are bigger and more massive undertakings than others, such as converting a crawl space into a basement.

In most cases, a crawl space can be transformed into a basement. However, this process can be tedious and very expensive. It requires a great deal of structural reconfiguration and should involve an engineer. 

How do you convert a crawl space into a basement?

First and foremost, a structural engineer will complete a detailed plan for the construction team to follow throughout the project. This huge undertaking will most likely consist of installing or reconfiguring existing support systems and then digging out the crawl space to the appropriate height.

The exterior foundation then needs to be reconstructed or reconfigured since the footings will most likely be undermined and exposed. The crew will also pour concrete for walls and slab. Then there’s the installation of electrical, water, HVAC, insulation, walls, floors, and other components necessary to convert the area into a livable space.

Things to Consider:

In gaining a basement, not only will you have more living space and storage, the added square footage should increase your home value. However, a space conversion of this magnitude brings some key things to consider. There will be a risk to the structural integrity of the home. In addition, the expense involved and the invasive repair can take quite some time to complete. The average cost of a crawl space conversion can range anywhere from $50,000 - $75,000.

Call in the Pros:

We do not recommend this as a DIY project. Save something of this size for the pros. If you are considering this endeavor, you should not just start digging out your crawl space without consulting a professional or an engineer first. They will evaluate your home to ensure it can withstand the structural weight of this type of renovation. We have repaired many homes where customers or previous homeowners have started the conversion and left the project incomplete. As a result, it caused serious structural problems within the house and the exterior foundation. 

If you decide to move forward with the crawl space conversion, put your DIY muscle and efforts into other home projects and save this one for the experts. Doing it the correct way involves time, resources and patience. Upon completion, your new basement will be worth it as you’ll have a structurally sound and well-constructed space to enjoy and use for many years.