Older homes, additions, and basement deepening projects often require footings to go deeper or wider than they were originally built. Abbotsford Concrete extends those footings safely using an engineered bay sequence, keeping the building supported throughout the work. Free assessment and written quote.
When the Issue Is the Footing Itself, Not the Wall
A cracked foundation wall can often be repaired by reinforcing the wall itself. But when the root cause is a footing that was never deep enough, never wide enough, or never extended into proper bearing soil, wall repair alone will not stop the movement. The footing has to be extended or rebuilt beneath the existing structure.
Underpinning also solves basement deepening, where lowering the floor means the existing footing now sits above the new slab elevation and must be extended downward. It is also the solution when an addition loads an existing footing beyond its original design capacity.
The method is always the same: the footing is supported in numbered bays while deeper or wider sections are poured beneath or beside it, engineered so the building never loses support. This integrates with basement renovation work and pairs with foundation waterproofing on newly exposed walls. If cracking is only in the wall above the footing, foundation repair may be the right choice instead.
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The underpinning process
How Foundation Underpinning Gets Done in Abbotsford
Structural engineer designs the sequence
The engineer specifies footing depth, width, materials, and the exact order in which bays are excavated and poured so the building stays supported through every step of the work.
Excavate one bay at a time
Following the engineered sequence, bays are dug one at a time, never adjacent ones together, so the building always has supported footing on both sides of any open bay.
Form and pour the new footing section
The deeper or wider footing is formed, reinforced, and poured in that bay, then allowed to cure fully before the next bay is opened, ensuring the new concrete bonds properly to the existing footing.
Move to the next bay in sequence
Once one bay is cured and load-bearing, the next bay in the engineered sequence is excavated and poured, repeating the cycle until the entire footing has been extended to the new depth or width.
Why bays are essential
The Bay Sequence Is What Makes Underpinning Safe
It would be faster to excavate the entire footing and pour a new one, but that would leave the building unsupported and cause immediate settlement. Bays solve this by keeping only a small section of footing open at any time while the rest of the structure is held up by the surrounding supported footing.
The engineered sequence is also why underpinning cannot be rushed or improvised. Skipping ahead, opening two adjacent bays, or pouring without proper curing time all risk settlement during the work. We follow the sequence exactly as designed, and we waterproof newly exposed walls before backfilling to prevent water infiltration. Crack injection may also be needed if the existing footing has cracks that need sealing before the new work begins.
Bay sequences, basement deepening, additions and when underpinning is the right solution.
If settlement keeps happening after repair attempts, if the cracking is at the footing rather than just in the wall, if the soil bearing capacity has changed, or if you are adding load or lowering the basement floor. The assessment will tell us which is right.
Yes. The bay sequence means only a small section of footing is unsupported at any time, and the rest is bearing the load. Most homeowners stay in their homes through underpinning; we let you know if your situation is the exception.
Yes, that is one of the main uses. Lowering a basement floor below the existing footing requires the footing to be extended downward in bays; once underpinned, the floor can be excavated to the new depth and a new slab poured.
Only when the new load on the existing footing exceeds what the footing was sized for. The structural engineer for the addition determines that; we underpin the existing footing to the engineered detail when required.
Several weeks for a typical residential underpinning, because each bay has to be excavated, formed, poured and cured before the next bay starts. The full schedule is in the written quote so you can plan around it.
Homeowner reviews
What Abbotsford Homeowners Say About Their Underpinning Work
We added a second storey and the engineer said underpin. Abbotsford Concrete did the sequence by the book, addition went on top, no settlement since. Done right.
T. J.
Abbotsford
★★★★★
Settlement that two other contractors had tried to fix as wall cracks was actually a footing problem. Underpinning solved it. Cracks haven't moved since.
N. K.
Chilliwack
★★★★★
Basement deepening project, underpinning first, then the new lower slab. Headroom we wanted, structure stronger than before. Worth every cent.
U. O.
Maple Ridge
★★★★★
Engineered, sequenced, communicated every step. Lived in the house through the whole project, never felt unsafe. Underpinning is a craft and these guys know it.
G. H.
Langley
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Describe what is happening with your foundation, whether it is ongoing settlement, a planned addition, or basement deepening, and we will assess it at no charge and provide a written quote with timeline.
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