Basement Underpinning & Foundation Repair Services
At Maximum General Contracting, we do much more than basement underpinning. As professional Toronto contractors, we are highlyexperienced in all aspects of home construction and renovation. We can provide our clients with all necessary contracting services and, in most cases, take charge of the entire project from start to finish. As your Toronto general contractor, we can provide a turn-key renovation solution, whether it’s a kitchen remodel, finishing a basement, a bathroom renovation, or any other home renovation project. Maximum General Contracting will complete the job to your satisfaction from beginning to end.
Basement Lowering
Basement lowering will allow you to increase the overall height of your basement. Most home owners choose to have their basements lowered to add additional living space to their home or to allow for renting out the new available space allowing for additional home income. Basement lowering is always based on engineered drawings and city approved permits. The basement concrete floor is removed and the soil is excavated accordingly. Lowering your basement is typically done in three stages using the A,B,C method. Initially we dig out all the "A's" maximum 4 feet wide, we then form and pour concrete 25 mpa. Once this is completed we install 2" inches of dry pack grout. We then go on to do "B" and then "C" in the same procedure. All stages of the basement lowering are inspected by the city. After the three stages of underpinning are completed 4" of ¾" gravel is installed and the basement is finished with 4" of 25mpa concrete. Basement lowering is a terrific way to increase the livable space in your home and increase property value without having to extend the building footprint. A lowered basement provides additional head space that makes a world of difference in someone's perception of your home. Whether you are looking to increase the value of your home to sell, adding a rental apartment, or just want to give yourself a bit more room, basement lowering is a great investment.
Basement Underpinning
Underpinning is the process of strengthening and stabilizing the foundation of an existing building or other structure. Underpinning is accomplished by extending the foundation in depth so it either rests on a stronger soil stratum or distributes its load across a greater area. The foundation of a home/ building is significant. All underpinning is completed following all building codes, city permits are acquired for the underpinning and all stages of the underpinning are inspected by city inspectors. Maximum General Contracting will provide you with all options when it comes to undertaking the task of underpinning your homes foundation. Underpinning effectively protects and insures the integrity of your homes foundation. There are many reasons that you may need foundation underpinning, including; instability in the existing foundation, new use of the structure, nearby excavations, increase load capacity of foundation, and also some environmental factors like floods and earthquakes. If the current foundation of your building needs to be strengthened for anyone of the aforementioned reasons, or an unlisted reason, please let us know and we'll be more than happy to help with your foundation underpinning. Basement lowering is a terrific way to increase the livable space in your home and increase property value without having to extend the building footprint. A lowered basement provides additional head space that makes a world of difference in someone's perception of your home. Whether you are looking to increase the value of your home to sell, adding a rental apartment, or just want to give yourself a bit more room, basement lowering is a great investment.
Basement Waterproofing
Moisture, condensation or water leakage in basements is an issue for many homeowners. Wet basements can lead to many costly and complicated future home repairs. Wet basements and basement foundations are a breathing ground for mold and mildew which makes for a unhealthy living environment. Waterproofing can be done either internally, or applied to the exterior of the structure. The exterior waterproofing method is the preferred waterproofing method. Exterior waterproofing prevents water from seeping through the foundation wall. Exterior waterproofing provides effective long lasting guaranteed results. The external waterproofing method is done by digging down to the foundation. The wall is then wire-brushed and cleaned. The foundation wall is then parged and a rubber coating is applied to the entire exterior "below ground" surface. Finally, it is completed with a waterproof membrane applied over the rubber coating. Once this is completed, 4" diameter weeping tiles are then installed in a trench surrounding the entire building. The weeping tiles are set level with the bottom of the footings, covered with 10" to 12" of ¾" gravel to assist with drainage. The trench is then back-filled. If the internal method is used, we cut and remove the floor slabs approximately 12" away from the wall. Earth is then removed right down to the bottom of the footings. We supply and install the waterproof membrane on the foundation wall. Weeping tile is then installed, level with the footing and terminated to a sump-pump pit. The weeping tiles are covered with gravel before concrete is poured over top to create a new basement floor. Basement mold can create a health risk for you and your family, and once mold sets in your house, it can be very hard to get rid of it. The best ways to prevent mold is by waterproofing your basement. By doing this, you greatly cut the risk of any mold getting in in the first place. Of course, we always recommend that a foundation be constructed properly when a house is first built, but if you have just bought a new house with an unfinished basement or poorly done foundation, you need to look into waterproofing your basement to help prevent mold build up.
Brick and Block Work
A wet brick and block build is constructed with a block built internal skin and cavity followed by a brick external facing, remain the preferred building method of self-builders. Brickwork masonry is produced when a bricklayer uses bricks and mortar to build up structures such as walls, bridges and chimneys. (Brickwork is also used to finish openings such as doors or windows in buildings made of other materials.) Face work is where the bricks are to remain fully visible, as opposed to being covered up by plaster or stucco. Maximum ensures all your brick and block work is completed to the highest standards of work and up to code to insure the approval of all city inspections.
Bench Footing
Bench footing is done in the 1 to 1 ratio for every 1 foot down you must go out 1 foot. We then go on to install 3" inches of ¾ inch gravel with weeping tile around perimeter of basement which is terminated to sum pump pit. The pit has a pump which pumps out natural earth water out to side or back of home. The next step is to pour 4" inches of concrete for the slab.
Main Drains / Sump Pumps
The Main Drains / Sump pump are used to remove water that has accumulated in the sump pump pit. A sump pump pit, commonly found in the home basement, is simply a hole to collect water. The water may enter via the perimeter drains of a basement waterproofing system, funneling into the pit, or may arrive because of rain or because of natural ground water, if the basement is below the water table level.
Additions and Extensions
In order to do an addition you must first dig and remove the earth down to the level of the new footings which will be formed and poured with concrete, then the cement blocks can be install for the new addition ( you can also pour the foundation wall with concrete). A new home addition can be a terrific way to open up space and really increase the overall value of your home. If you're looking to have a renovation done to your home, you should make sure that you pick a company that can take care of the project from start to finish. At Maximum General Contracting we can manage your home renovation project, building it from the ground up.
Radiant Floor Heating
Many of our clients ask about Radiant Floor Heating and we agree that this is an excellent choice for keeping the basement dry and provides a warm, comfortable floor on which to walk. A radiant floor heating system supplies heat directly to the floor surface. Radiant or floor heating has many advantages, especially in the basement. It is more energy efficient than baseboard heating and forced-air heating through duct work. And, it is a good choice for people with allergies. There are three main types of floor heating systems: air heated radiant floors, electric radiant floors and hydronic radiant floors. Radiant floor heating is much more than just an alternative heating source. It can add to the warmth and comfort of any living space and really transform the impression people have of your home. Adding radiant heating under the tiles in your home entrance way gives guests a warm and inviting feeling the minute they step in. Installing radiant floor heating in the bathroom will substantially increase your family's enjoyment of the space, eliminating the unpleasant feel of cold tiles under their feet. By installing radiant floor heating with a thermostat, you add in a luxury item that helps to increase both the comfort level and value of your home.
Plans & Permits
Maximum General Contracting will arrange for all required permits to do the work. Should you also require plans to be drawn up, we have an engineer capable of handling all your planning needs. Sometimes, when it comes to home renovations and additions, it can seem like the planning stage takes longer and requires more effort than the work itself! With all of the permits and paper-work that is required for a home renovation, it can sometimes be easy to miss something which could hold up your renovation project. At Maximum General Contracting, we have a lot of experience filing permits and can deal with them quickly. We can take care of all the details for you so you don't have to.