What does it cost to excavate an oil tank, and to excavate a basement for additional headroom?
Hello! My wife and I have narrowed down our house search to two houses. One house is in northern Cranford, the other on the Scotch Plains/Westfield border just south of Route 28. The Cranford house has an ideal location but has two challenging aspects: the basement (partially finished) height is about 4 inches shorter than we'd like it to be, and there's a closed underground oil tank on the property. For peace of mind, we wonder if it makes sense to excavate the oil tank. We're also wondering if it's possible to excavate 4" inches of the basement floor to get some more headroom. Has anyone done either of these projects, what do we have to watch out for, and what's a ballpark cost we'd expect to bear? Thank you!
I highly recommend having the tank removed PRIOR to closing by a qualified, licensed company. It is usually straight forward, but if the soil is contaminated the process can become complex and expensive.
The basement is more involved and you should consult a structural engineer. The slab frequently provides lateral support for the foundation walls and removing it can be very serious.
Feel free to contact me for more information. I don't make money for referrals, just my inspections.
Rafi Footerman
Mid Jersey Inspections
732-906-4100
NJ Home Inspector Lic. #076900
The Oil tank has to be done by a licensed removval company. I have seen this range from 5000 - 6000
there are many companies that perform this service. This is actually a very involved process, with soil samples and tests. But, I think it is pretty painless nowadays.
The basment floor should be looked at by a good contractor, preferrably somone with an engineering background. Good luck.
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