Homeowners across Toronto are increasingly turning to foundation modifications to create more functional living space beneath their feet. Whether it’s to accommodate a growing family, add a legal rental suite, or simply boost property value, lowering the basement is often a smart move. But when it comes to how to lower that basement, the options can feel overwhelming.
Two of the most common solutions are basement underpinning and bench footing—each with unique advantages, limitations, and cost implications. If you’re considering a project involving basement underpinning Toronto, it’s essential to understand how these methods differ and which one aligns best with your home’s structure, budget, and long-term goals.
Let’s break it down.
Understanding the Basics of Basement Lowering
Before diving into comparisons, it’s helpful to clarify what we mean by “lowering a basement.” In simple terms, this refers to increasing the usable height of a basement by modifying the foundation. This can improve headroom, comply with building codes for habitable space, and ultimately make your basement livable or rentable.
Both underpinning and bench footing achieve this goal—but they do so in fundamentally different ways.
What Is Basement Underpinning?
Basement underpinning involves excavating underneath your existing foundation and pouring new, deeper footings in a segmented process. This lowers the entire foundation structure of the home, giving you a full-height basement without altering the interior layout.
This method is particularly beneficial in older Toronto homes, where foundations were built shallow and ceiling heights are often inadequate by today’s standards.
What Is Bench Footing?
Bench footing—also known as benching or interior benching—is a less invasive and typically less expensive option. Instead of digging under the existing foundation, the floor is lowered inward from the foundation walls, and a concrete “bench” or shelf is poured around the perimeter to support the existing structure.
This bench protrudes into the interior space, effectively creating a ledge that reduces floor area but allows the floor to be lowered without disturbing the exterior walls.
Key Differences in Cost and Budget
Cost is often the driving factor in this decision, and rightly so. Bench footing is generally more affordable than underpinning. Because it avoids digging below the existing foundation and the associated structural engineering, labour, and city inspections, bench footing can be completed more quickly and with fewer regulatory hurdles.
However, cheaper upfront costs don’t always mean better value. Basement underpinning, though more expensive, can dramatically increase property value by adding full-height, code-compliant living space that feels like a true extension of your home. In contrast, the space created with bench footing may be seen as less desirable due to the reduced usable floor area.
Space and Layout Considerations
One of the biggest trade-offs between the two methods is space. Underpinning gives you a clean, open basement with maximum layout flexibility. There are no encroachments or obstructions—ideal if you plan to use the space for a legal apartment, recreational area, or home office.
Bench footing, on the other hand, can reduce your usable square footage by up to 2 feet along all walls where the bench is required. While this might not be a dealbreaker for storage or laundry rooms, it can be a significant limitation if you’re looking to create a livable or rentable unit.
Impact on Property Value
In Toronto’s competitive housing market, making smart renovations can deliver excellent ROI. Full-height finished basements with natural light and legal rental capabilities are highly appealing to both buyers and tenants.
Because basement underpinning results in an open, code-compliant space, it generally adds more resale and rental value than bench footing. This makes underpinning the preferred method if you’re investing in your property with resale in mind.
Bench footing, while useful, may be seen as more of a workaround than a true solution. Buyers may view the reduced space and unconventional layout as a compromise—especially if neighbouring properties have gone the underpinning route.
Permitting and Inspection Requirements
Both underpinning and bench footing typically require permits in Toronto, but the scope and complexity vary. Underpinning requires structural engineering drawings, soil testing in some cases, and multiple city inspections during the process. It’s critical to work with professionals who are well-versed in local codes and experienced in securing municipal approval.
Bench footing often involves fewer inspections and a simpler approval process, but it’s still important to follow regulations to avoid issues down the road, particularly if you plan to finish the basement or apply for a second dwelling permit.
For homeowners exploring basement underpinning Toronto services, understanding the city’s building code standards and seeking expert consultation early in the planning phase is highly recommended.
Timeline and Construction Disruption
Basement underpinning is a labour-intensive process that can take several weeks to months, depending on the size of the home and complexity of the project. It often requires vacating part or all of the home during certain phases of the excavation and concrete work.
Bench footing, being less invasive, is faster and may allow homeowners to remain in the property for most of the renovation. For families concerned with disruption, this could be a deciding factor.
That said, it’s worth weighing short-term inconvenience against the long-term benefits that underpinning provides.
Structural Stability and Long-Term Durability
From a structural perspective, underpinning not only increases height but reinforces the foundation itself. For older homes with signs of settlement or foundational cracking, underpinning can actually improve the overall stability of the home.
Bench footing doesn’t strengthen the foundation—it merely supports the existing one. If your house is already showing signs of structural wear, bench footing might not be the safest or most future-proof solution.
Which Method Is Right for You?
The decision ultimately hinges on your goals, budget, and how you intend to use the basement. If your priority is maximizing living space, increasing property value, or creating a legal suite, underpinning is likely the better investment. If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to improve headroom for a gym, workshop, or storage, bench footing might suffice.
Each Toronto home is different. Soil conditions, age of the house, and local zoning regulations all play a role. That’s why consulting with an experienced contractor is essential—they can evaluate your structure, review your goals, and recommend the most appropriate approach.
Making the Smart Choice for Your Foundation
Your foundation is literally what your home stands on, and modifying it is not a decision to take lightly. Whether you choose bench footing or full underpinning, the work must be done safely, legally, and with a long-term perspective.
Don’t just aim for more space—aim for better space. Investing wisely in your basement now can pay off in comfort, value, and peace of mind for years to come.
Source: FG Newswire