Hello!
I am considering whether we should excavate a basement to get a little more ceiling height. It is so low to the ceiling, only 1.97 meters, with a little higher ceiling height (maybe 2.3 meters) it would feel nicer.
We have a basement built in the mid-70s, and I'm wondering if it's reasonable to excavate and increase the ceiling height.
I understand that there might be issues, such as the bedrock being close to the foundation, but assuming there aren't such issues.
If my thoughts are reasonable, how long might it take to excavate a basement of 90 square meters, do you think?
Thankful for help!
//Generally
I am considering whether we should excavate a basement to get a little more ceiling height. It is so low to the ceiling, only 1.97 meters, with a little higher ceiling height (maybe 2.3 meters) it would feel nicer.
We have a basement built in the mid-70s, and I'm wondering if it's reasonable to excavate and increase the ceiling height.
I understand that there might be issues, such as the bedrock being close to the foundation, but assuming there aren't such issues.
If my thoughts are reasonable, how long might it take to excavate a basement of 90 square meters, do you think?
Thankful for help!
//Generally
It doesn't sound like a fun job.
Can you bring in a small excavator, like a Bobcat?
If you're going to do it by hand, you should consider the following:
You need to break and excavate about 9 cubic meters of concrete, then excavate about 27 cubic meters of fill materials. If you need a new base layer and ground insulation, you'll need to remove an additional 9 cubic meters per dm. Then it's back with new base layer, insulation, reinforcement, and finally 9 cubic meters of concrete.
I wouldn't do that job by hand.
Can you bring in a small excavator, like a Bobcat?
If you're going to do it by hand, you should consider the following:
You need to break and excavate about 9 cubic meters of concrete, then excavate about 27 cubic meters of fill materials. If you need a new base layer and ground insulation, you'll need to remove an additional 9 cubic meters per dm. Then it's back with new base layer, insulation, reinforcement, and finally 9 cubic meters of concrete.
I wouldn't do that job by hand.
Everything goes if you have the stamina.
I chipped out half the area you're talking about, and it took about 6 months.
I would estimate it takes between 4-10 months depending on how efficient you are and other circumstances like family, etc.
In hindsight, I probably should have let someone else do the job.
As mattiasp said, it's not fun...
However, it turned out cheaper this way, but at what cost? You feel like a prisoner and don't see your family much.
Tired from work, you put on your work clothes and start chipping away day in and day out whenever you get the chance.
Sacrifice part of the outer wall and drive in with a Bobcat.
I guess you'll need some snigeldynamit if you have rock, I had blue clay.
I chipped out half the area you're talking about, and it took about 6 months.
I would estimate it takes between 4-10 months depending on how efficient you are and other circumstances like family, etc.
In hindsight, I probably should have let someone else do the job.
As mattiasp said, it's not fun...
However, it turned out cheaper this way, but at what cost? You feel like a prisoner and don't see your family much.
Tired from work, you put on your work clothes and start chipping away day in and day out whenever you get the chance.
Sacrifice part of the outer wall and drive in with a Bobcat.
I guess you'll need some snigeldynamit if you have rock, I had blue clay.
Hi, we demolished 240 sqm. Rented a water-cooled concrete saw and cut squares in an appropriate size then carried them out by hand. Then we called Norrvac and they vacuumed out the sand that was under the concrete. It was a real strength exercise, but it was worth it in hindsight with 230 in the whole basement compared to the 185 it was before
Thanks for the response!
It doesn't seem entirely impossible, and maybe it can be done in stages, perhaps take a part of the basement and increase the ceiling height in that section. Right when we come down the basement stairs, we have a bathroom, and I'm considering if we could possibly excavate that part, maybe 6 sqm, and then the part of the hallway that's outside, maybe 5 sqm, leave the rest untouched for now and then have a couple of steps leading into the long corridor that houses the rest of the basement. Do you think it would look odd?
The house is in the countryside, so we won't disturb any neighbors in any case.
It doesn't seem entirely impossible, and maybe it can be done in stages, perhaps take a part of the basement and increase the ceiling height in that section. Right when we come down the basement stairs, we have a bathroom, and I'm considering if we could possibly excavate that part, maybe 6 sqm, and then the part of the hallway that's outside, maybe 5 sqm, leave the rest untouched for now and then have a couple of steps leading into the long corridor that houses the rest of the basement. Do you think it would look odd?
The house is in the countryside, so we won't disturb any neighbors in any case.
But I don't understand... Isn't the house standing on footings or something like that?
How do you do then when you dig several decimeters under the house's load-bearing parts?
Do you have to cast or build up a new load-bearing wall under the footing, or how do you do it?
How do you do then when you dig several decimeters under the house's load-bearing parts?
Do you have to cast or build up a new load-bearing wall under the footing, or how do you do it?
In some cases, the sole is far below the existing floor. That's how it looked at a couple of neighbors' houses.
In other cases, you have to dig out a portion under the exterior wall at a time and build up a new exterior wall.
In other cases, you have to dig out a portion under the exterior wall at a time and build up a new exterior wall.
sounds really smooth!! my local rental has this in the range:Henrik1234 said:Hi We drove out 240sqm. Rented a water-cooled concrete saw and cut up squares in a suitable size then we carried them out by hand. Then we called Norrvac so they sucked out the sand that was under the concrete. A real workout but it was worth it in hindsight with 230 in the whole basement. Compared to 185 as it was before
3422 Floor saw, concrete, cutting depth 170 mm, 3-phase ................................................................ 350 SEK
3423 Floor saw, concrete, cutting depth 320 mm, 3-phase ................................................................ 470 SEK
how long did it take for you to saw?
I have comparatively "only"
max 35 sqm to fix... does it munch through reinforcement and such or does the renter get upset when he gets back a blade smooth as a baby's bottom?approximately how large squares are "suitable"? and how do you go about it? first saw the entire floor in a grid pattern and then remove it?
which machine is best suited do you think? 170mm should work excellently for my 70s foundation. maybe have to put the hammer drill on the floor to measure the thickness first...
The landlord becomes very happy when you return with a completely worn-out blade. You often have to pay quite a lot for every half millimeter that you wear on the blade. A new blade is ridiculously expensive.
I would guess so... :-/ but do the blades handle rebar or not?
I don't actually know if I have rebar in the floor, because I haven't broken any floor yet. My (basement) walls, however, are filled with rebar. I know that after drilling a couple of holes in them...
But if a concrete saw is NOT that good if you have rebar, what is the best method price/time-wise?
I don't actually know if I have rebar in the floor, because I haven't broken any floor yet. My (basement) walls, however, are filled with rebar. I know that after drilling a couple of holes in them...
But if a concrete saw is NOT that good if you have rebar, what is the best method price/time-wise?
At least four times the price - I've heard - although the Cramo guy MIGHT have exaggerated.
What you use to saw when you have reinforcement, I don't know. I think otherwise you'll have to use a jackhammer and cut the reinforcement, but that's just a guess.
What you use to saw when you have reinforcement, I don't know. I think otherwise you'll have to use a jackhammer and cut the reinforcement, but that's just a guess.
I'm busy carrying sand today, planning to move about 14 m3. I think it sounds fantastic to use a sand vacuum to remove the sand. Are there more companies besides norrvac and is it expensive? It feels like I would save my back quite a bit...
I read in another thread here that it might be a good idea to rent a machine and directly mount a blade you purchased yourself and run it out instead of paying the penalty for wear and tear to the rental company. It's likely their margins are greater on wear and tear than on rental, so it seems sensible.
Also, why settle for 230 cm ceiling height, 3-4 meters seems cool when you're at it!
Best regards
Ronnie
Also, why settle for 230 cm ceiling height, 3-4 meters seems cool when you're at it!
Best regards
Ronnie