Cumberland is Ottawa's eastern edge: the historic village founded in the early 1800s, estate properties along the Ottawa River, and in between, prestige subdivisions and rural lots. The housing stock is eclectic — century-old village homes on rubble or block foundations sitting next to brand-new custom builds. Many francophone families have settled in the area, minutes from Orléans. Whether we're enlarging a window in an old stone foundation or cutting a patio door into a new build, we adapt our technique to the building — not the other way around.

Our services in Cumberland

Window & door openings — enlarge a basement window for an egress-compliant bedroom, or cut a patio door into the foundation wall
Concrete coring — precise holes for heat pumps, HRVs, dryer vents or plumbing
Slab sawing — cuts in the basement slab to move a drain or add a bathroom
Garage opening widening — converting a single door to a double
Window well cut-outs — foundation cuts prepped for well installation

The old rubble foundations in Cumberland Village need a different approach than poured concrete: the original stone and mortar are more brittle, and a poorly executed cut can weaken the wall. We use blades suited to the material, wet-saw to limit vibration, and reinforce the opening with a lintel whenever the structure calls for one.

Cumberland specifics

Heritage foundations: several century-old homes in the village rest on stone or block foundations — we cut cleanly without compromising the original structure
City of Ottawa permits: changing an opening in an exterior wall or finishing a basement bedroom requires a permit under the Ontario Building Code — we'll walk you through it
River proximity: waterfront and low-lying properties often sit on a high water table — slab cuts for drains or sump pits are planned accordingly

Sump pits and foundation drains

On lots near the Ottawa River, basement water is a fact of life — especially at spring thaw. Digging a sump pit or redoing a foundation drain almost always starts with a cut in the slab: we mark the perimeter, saw to full depth and remove the concrete cleanly so your plumber or drainage contractor can work without delay. The cut is done wet, with no dust in your basement, and most trenches are opened in a single day. If your Cumberland home takes on water every spring, this is often where the fix begins.