Digging up your basement can be a daunting task. There are several things to take into consideration before you start. However, hiring a professional to help you with your basement is exciting, especially if you’re not sure what to do with it. This article will lay out a step-by-step process for basement digging, saving you the hassle.
Know local building codes
Most cities have building codes that dictate how basements can be built and used. These codes vary widely by jurisdiction, so you’ll have to check with your local municipality to see what applies in your area.
Check with local utility companies
Before you start digging, contact your local utility companies, such as gas, water and electric, to find out where their lines are located so as not to damage them during excavation work.
Obtain permits when required
In many areas, it’s required that homeowners obtain a permit before doing any major basement excavation work in their yards or driveways, including digging up their basements. Check with your local authorities regarding this requirement before getting started on the project so that you don’t run into any legal problems later on.
Test for moisture
Make sure your basement is dry before you start digging up dirt. It’s important that all of the moisture has been taken out of the soil before you begin working with it, so consider hiring professional help if you aren’t sure how long it will take for your basement to dry out fully after a leak or other flooding incident.
Get an idea of what lies beneath
Before starting any digging project in your home, it’s important to know exactly what lies beneath your surface. You can do this by hiring a professional geologist who will use ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment to get an accurate picture of what lies beneath the surface.
However, this process involves sending electromagnetic waves through the ground and then receiving them back at a different frequency when they bounce off underground objects such as rocks and pipes.
Support the walls while you dig
You need to support the walls as you begin digging out the dirt under them. If your basement is like most basements, it’s probably made of concrete block or poured concrete with rebar and wire mesh for reinforcement.
To support the walls, use wooden planks or 2x4s to build temporary supports that extend from floor to ceiling on both sides of each wall. The supports should be spaced 12 inches apart horizontally and spaced vertically at least 6 inches apart when you begin the basement digging process.
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