Custom Home in Westfield, NJ
Supporting a lived-in home while preparing to excavate a new rec space one teaspoon of soil at a time.
Length of Construction: Estimated 3 Months
Location: Westfield, New Jersey
Impact Summary
Creating a custom basement rec space for a growing family by excavating beneath an occupied, fully finished home.
Designing phased structural supports to prevent settling or collapse during construction.
Using electric mini-excavators and conveyor systems to work within tight site and code constraints.
Making the Most of a Hillside Lot
This home, nestled into a New Jersey hillside, was already the product of a full-scale renovation completed by Dudonis Construction two years prior. But with their children growing and play space running thin, the clients came back to us; not to go up, but to go down. The plan? Expand the basement living area without displacing the family or damaging the carefully finished home above.
The Challenge
The homeowners need more space for their kids to play and grow, but local height restrictions rule out a third story, and the original basement footprint just isn’t enough. The only option: dig out under the existing house. With the family still living upstairs and the finished interiors above at risk, every cubic foot of dirt removed must be done without disturbing the structure. A single mistake could crack floors, tile, cabinetry, or worse.
The Approach
Instead of using large equipment or asking the family to vacate, we’ve engineered a phased underpinning plan. The process involves digging in narrow, 3-foot-wide sections, supporting each new area with fresh concrete walls before moving on. We’ll use electric mini-excavators narrow enough to pass through a 30-inch doorframe, conveyor belts to remove soil, and forest-like scaffolding to stabilize the structure from below as we go.
The Journey
From the beginning, Mike knew this wasn’t a typical basement project.
“There’s not a lot of guys that would take on this level,” he said. “And I think they knew that. That’s why they went with us.”
He’s bringing years of experience to the table, including a recent underpinning of a 150-year-old stone building protected by the historical society.
This next phase will be more like micro-surgery than excavation. Each day will involve stabilizing a section, excavating with electric mini-machines, and pouring concrete, while the family continues to live directly above. Our team plans to work side-by-side with trusted masons, with Mike personally overseeing each phase.
The original renovation was already a major transformation that added a new garage, full second floor, and modern finishes throughout. Now, this next phase will push the boundaries of what’s possible underneath a completed home.
The Result
The intended result is a new recreational space seamlessly integrated into the home’s footprint, adding livability and long-term value. Once finished, the kids will have a safe, beautiful room of their own, and the family will have made the most of their hillside lot, inside and out.
What We’re Most Excited About
This project is a testament to what’s possible when creativity meets craftsmanship. There’s something deeply satisfying about building downward, taking the limitations of space, access, and occupancy and turning them into a showcase of problem-solving. Few contractors take on work like this. Fewer still pull it off while the family keeps living upstairs. We can’t wait to prove it’s possible.