Underpinning & Structural Work
Underpinning and structural work — basement lowering, foundation reinforcement, and load-bearing changes carried out to engineered specifications, with safety first
Structural projects require a level of expertise, experience, and care that not every builder can deliver. Cutting corners on a foundation or a load-bearing wall removal can have consequences that last the life of the building. At Dovetail, we’ve completed dozens of complex structural projects across Toronto — and we approach every one with the same discipline: engineered specifications, experienced trades, and zero compromise on safety.
Adam Patel has been managing underpinning and structural work on Toronto’s older homes for over 20 years. He understands how these buildings behave, where the risks are, and how to execute complex structural changes cleanly and safely.
Underpinning & Basement Lowering
Underpinning is the process of lowering your basement floor to create full-height livable space below grade. Most Toronto homes built before the 1970s have basements with ceiling heights of 6 feet or less — too low to legally finish as living space. Underpinning changes that.
The process involves excavating beneath the existing foundation footings in a carefully sequenced pattern, pouring new concrete to extend the foundation depth, and waterproofing the new structure before finishing. Done correctly by an experienced team working to a structural engineer’s drawings, underpinning is a safe and highly valuable improvement to your home.
- Typical underpinning project: from $80,000
- Timeline: 6–10 weeks for the structural phase
- All underpinning work performed to structural engineer’s stamped drawings
- Full permit required and obtained through our architectural partners
Open Concept & Load-Bearing Wall Removal
Creating an open concept main floor in a Toronto home almost always involves removing one or more load-bearing walls and installing a steel or engineered wood beam to carry the load above. This work requires structural engineering, careful sequencing, and experienced trades — and it completely transforms how a home feels and lives.
We’ve done this in hundreds of Toronto homes — Victorian semi-detacheds, Edwardian detacheds, mid-century bungalows — and understand how each type of construction handles load redistribution. We coordinate the structural engineer, the permit process, and the execution, and we don’t open a wall until we have a plan for what’s holding it up.
Foundation Reinforcement & Repair
Many of Toronto’s older homes sit on rubble stone, early poured concrete, or block foundations that have shifted, cracked, or deteriorated over decades. We assess foundation conditions honestly and recommend the appropriate solution — from targeted crack repair and waterproofing to full foundation replacement where necessary.
Structural Additions
Adding a second storey to an existing bungalow, or extending a home with a significant rear addition, involves substantial structural work — new footings, new bearing walls, new beams, and integration with the existing structure. We coordinate the full structural scope with our engineering partners and execute to specification.
How We Work on Structural Projects
- Structural engineering assessment and stamped drawings for all structural work
- Full permit coordination through our architectural partners
- Careful sequencing to maintain structural integrity throughout construction
- Adam on site throughout the critical phases
- Detailed documentation for future reference and resale
Let’s talk.
One conversation is all it takes to find out what your project could look like — and what it would honestly cost. No pressure, just straight answers from the builder himself.