I'm considering taking off two inches from the top of my basement floor to avoid losing height when I put in a Dri-Core subfloor. This would involve the three footings under the lally columns that support the structural steel beam. Each footing is 24"x24"x12". Am I risking the structural integrity of these footings by doing this? Also, if lowering the basement floor isn't the best option, are there alternative ways to insulate or create a vapor barrier that would still allow for decent temperature control and work with laminate flooring?
3 Answers
Honestly, you might want to consult a structural engineer for this. It’s a complex issue, and Reddit users can’t provide the expertise you need here.
Not sure if you really need an engineer just yet, but to lower your basement floor by two inches safely, you’d probably need to remove and re-pour the entire slab. It’s definitely not as simple as grinding down a couple of inches. My suggestion? Lift the house instead, it worked for me when I was in a similar situation!
It sounds kinda pricey just to get a couple of inches. There might be better, more cost-effective options out there to achieve what you want without digging up the whole floor.