Building Down – From Crawlspace to Luxury Living Spaces

During a visit to his brother in London, contractor Alex Heide noticed how common it was for London homeowners to build down when they needed more space. He thought of Atlanta and all the zoning requirements that don’t allow homeowners in historic neighborhoods to build out. He realized how great it would be to provide Atlantans with the opportunity to expand their homes by building down, all while still staying in the home thanks to his unique, unintrusive process. 

Heide’s father is an engineer, so his heart has always beat for architecture and construction. With 10 years in the construction business himself, he saw a lot of foundational failures and became interested in sustainable foundation work. Heide opened Heide Contracting in 2019 to focus on foundational work, crawlspace conversions like you see here, steel beam work, load bearing wall removals and structural work that other companies typically turn down. 

He’s continued to pave the way for homeowners to remain at home while the space they love is expanded. Converting crawlspaces into a livable basement breathes new life into a home, maximizing square footage and creating a uniquely customized space for families (and visitors) to enjoy for years to come. 

“One of my favorite parts of crawlspace conversion projects is when we get close to the end of the excavation process and the concrete is poured; getting to witness the homeowner’s reaction to seeing their crawlspace become a walkable space is really special,” Heide said.

BIGGEST ASK: Does My Crawlspace Qualify? 

There are not a lot of limitations keeping you from converting your crawlspace but some things you need to consider are: do you have a crawlspace or short basement in your home (no concrete slabs), are you located in a flood plain and are you going to get a good return on your investment? A consultation can determine if your home is a good fit.

Alex Heide founded Heide Contracting to fuse historic preservation with modern design. He champions craftsmanship and innovation, earning a reputation for thoughtful, high-impact home transformations that respect the past while building for the future. heidecontracting.com