Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 1/9/2009

Question
can this be done with a bobcat and do they have books on how to do this. my crawl space is proxy 40 feet x 30 feet, and do i use a certain kind of concrete.

Answer
Hi rich, digging basements from crawlspaces is done all the time.  I don't know of any books on the subject but try searching Amazon.com they have an extensive construction library.  Basically you dig around all the supports and then when you can add temporary shoring you dig out where the existing suppors are.

Yes this can be done with a bobcat.  You need to dig a deep enough and long enough ramp to get the top of the bobcat below the house structure and then start digging your way in, being careful not to hit the house as you burrow underneath.

Don't forget about your plumbing etc. that is under the house and hanging down.  You will need to disconnect some of it or all of it when working in these areas. It is probably best to begin, if possible, your dig on a side of the house that has the least amount of plumbing etc.

Another option is to have a house moving company come out and shove some big beams in under the house and support the house completely from the outside. They jack it up an extra foot or so. This allows you to remove all the basement dirt, form and pour your foundation or use concrete block to build the new foundation.  The new foundation is built around the beams and then after the beams are lowered and the house is sitting on the new foundation the beams are pulled out and the foundation is blocked in where the beams used to be.

I hope this information helps feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely bruce e johnson..bejohnsonconsulting.com