Expect to pay a lot of money for that job, and probably no recoup on resale.

You might be happier add a mid-sized front deck and decking over the cement steps to expand the front entry. You could tie that deck color and style to a re-do of the deck above of the garage. You can leave the cement in place to hold the earth and just deck over it.

Irving Residents · More Info

Here is another alternative, removing the current cement and redesigning the cement stairs. Restoring natural soil mounts and plant with them.

Bonifield Residence · More Info

Thank you for your suggestions goluscombe and the pics ideas. But unfortunately your suggestion wouldn't help me with bringing more light into the basement by installing full size windows in the basement and make the house look taller.

Why do you think that my project is very expensive? Is it doable as a DIY project (assuming renting an excavator)?

Edit: i also added the picture of the basement windows that i expect to enlarge if i can lower the ground level

Are you talking about window wells?

Do you want to jackhammer out the basement windows and add a standard size window? That means changing a masonry wall. In my mind, that would be expensive, like rebuilding the side of a pool and changing rebar structure and the cement substrate.

Is that what you had in mind? If so then its best to check with the city if you need a permit first.

Then once you confirm the window size and order what you need because if the window is custom sized, figure 4-6 weeks.
Once you get the window and are ready to start digging. ''CallBeforeYou'' dig so they can mark any gas lines etc.
Dig out the hole.
Hire a concrete cutter to come in and cut the concrete
Rent a chipping hammer and break up the concrete block.
Install window frame and window
Finish exterior

This isn't a DIY job either.

Then you still have landscaping to figure out.

The new windows will be downhill from that tree on the right of the property and you will need to build in a drainage system in a hurry to avoid flooding. Either that, or remove the tree at more cost.

Thanks for your input!

Let me explain, I have the typical small basement windows, and I want to enlarge them by cutting 3.5 ft or so down into foundation. I don't want to do the windows wells , instead i want to flatten the slope in the front yard in line with the current driveway level. The elevation between the driveway (main road) level to the highest point is about 5 feet. And of course, i need to remove the tree in the corner of the lot (it's a big tree, any ideas how much it can cost?).

After the slope and tree are gone, i need to redesign the wider driveway, front entrance stairs, and refinish the exterior basement wall. Do you have any ideas on those? Do you know about similar projects like mine? Any ideas on the landscaping for the front yard? Do you think i need to add a front porch as well? Also maybe some cost estimate for this kind of work?

food for thought - the soil may be acting as support for the foundation and house. I'd contact an engineer prior to removing large amounts of soil.

You need to talk to a contractor for this job. I would envision that the costs of this effort are far in excess of any 'value add' to the property.

@ mendys can you please elaborate on " the soil may be acting as support for the foundation and house" ? I never heard about danger removing the soil from the basement walls before (but of course i'm no engineer)

Here is the sample pic of the window:

I think what was meant is that one the original soil when the basement was dug, the original soil was not 'fill', or not trucked-in dirt. The soil was a hill that had been there for centuries and was fully settled. The 'fully settled' soil would help ensure that there wouldn't be any cracking in the basement as soil shrinks, swells and settles if it was 'fill'. There should be no danger in removing soil sitting against walls, but the house may have exterior waterproofing to take care/into consideration when removing the dirt.

Max, the soil is acting as structure itself against the basement wall(s) as an inward force. You were talking about removing 4' of soil depth. That is fairly significant.

I'm an industrial, not structural engineer, but a call to a structural engineer or an experienced contractor for these types of projects would be wise just to make sure that the removal of that much soil from the foundation won't compromise the foundation wall integrity.

"I'd expect this project to be in excess of $50,000."

My guess would be starting at double that and I may be low......................

i live in Canada, Montreal area. $50K is for sure more than i expected... Can you please give a breakdown of the costs? Thanks!

I'm coming to this conversation late and just skimming, so maybe missing something or being redundant. It looks prohibitively expensive to me ... so much so that I think it would be better to sell and move to a house more well liked as it is. All this work and $ for no real gain in value!

To gain a real idea as to the costs of your proposal, you should probably start with an excavation contractor and get an estimate. You need a licensed professional with experience and appropriate equipment (and insurance!). He/she will be doing a major portion of your work: dirt removal and then reconstruction of your yard and driveway to be sure proper drainage is maintained. Will existing infrastructure (buried utility/phone lines, water and sewer lines, etc.) need to be moved? You'll have to pay for that and that ain't cheap. I believe if I decided to do that at my house, I'd have to hire the owner of the specific line, for example, A.T.&T., to do the work.

Advice from a structural engineer would be valuable first to make sure that removal of the dirt will not compromise the integrity of your house's foundation.

You'll need someone with construction/basement knowledge to seal the to-be-exposed concrete foundation and to cut new window holes. And someone to install new windows.

Then a concrete contractor to rebuild your driveway/sidewalk/other new things you might decide you want.

And a landscaper to design/install new plantings.

Oh! And you mentioned removal of a large tree. In my area, removal of a large tree costs $2,000. And that's just what's above ground. Will you need roots removed too?

Others might know: would advice/permissions be required from your municipality because of the change in the grade of the yard (which may affect runoff both into nearby municipal-owned and privately-owned properties)?

Obviously I don't what any of these services would cost you in a major city in Canada.

The most cost effective thing to get more light into the basement would be to replace the old basement windows with new windows that have a very slim and light colored window frame. The windows have to be openable to allow for escape in the event of a fire. You might look into a single pane window with a crank opening to minimize the amount of visible frame.

Then replace the basement interior lights with LED light bulbs. LED bulbs are expensive, but they provide a lot more light than the standard incandescent bulbs at less cost to operate.

Then you can also trim the overhanging branches away from the roof to help get more direct sunlight.

Please take the advise of everyone that cautioned you against excavating. You will be throwing your money down a rat hole. A very big rat hole.

One more thought - your house would look a lot taller if a person could actually SEE it. Tear out that brush in front of the door. And, like the above poster said, trim up the low-hanging branches too.

Look into solar tubes to bring light into the basement. Your most modern and least expensive option! Agree with Yardvaark that moving makes more sense than the kind of alterations you are considering.

While your house isn't midcentury modern (like photo below), you might want to consider adding this type of front door to your house.

The house used to have a small little door, and a large glass alcove was added to give the house character. Your front door is good already, but this addition would force the eye up and create the illusion of a taller house.

http://www.coonrapidsmn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/217

That's a six figure project without a doubt. If you're serious about committing that sort of coin I would IMPLORE you to work with a local designer familiar with both landscaping and construction.

Thank you all for commenting on my question. It looks like it's a very difficult project and not worth it. Instead i'm considering now replacing the arched front windows to rectangular ones. I created a new thread for here: [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/arched-radius-to-rectangular-windows-replacement-brick-bungalow-dsvw-vd~4907693?n=17[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/arched-radius-to-rectangular-windows-replacement-brick-bungalow-dsvw-vd~4907693?n=17)

I would appreciate your input as well. Thanks