Underpinning can be crucial if your foundation is sinking. While it may sound like watching paint dry is fun, this could be the best thing you do for your home and yourself. I promise, this is less painful than waiting on a tech support callback.

Now, think about it. You are standing in your cellar and feel as if you were on a small ship in a mild hurricane. It’s not just your imagination. When it should be solid, your foundation is cha-chaing. Enter underpinning. The hero just in time. There’s plenty of legal jargon and red tape before you can jump onto the bandwagon.

Permits are the first thing to discuss. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like it, digging with a shovel is not an option. Your local municipality must give you permission to dig. You wouldn’t swarm into your neighbor’s barbeque without permission, right? Same principle.

These building codes are like a guidebook for a game that you’re just starting to play. You can learn what you are allowed to do and what you cannot. If you break these rules, it could lead to hefty penalties or lawsuits. Ignore it and you will regret it.

Guess what comes up next when you plan your underpinning project? Inspections. Oh joy! They are just regular checks by the local authorities to ensure that everything is in order. Imagine it as a measure of prevention, similar to brushing teeth. You would not skip it unless your goal was to avoid a lecture or worse dentures from your dentist.

Now what? Now what? Now is the time to decide your method. Traditional concrete? Mini-piles? Each option has advantages and disadvantages. The choice is like deciding between a salad or a sandwich. It depends on how hungry and what exactly you’re eating.