Situations in Which You May Consider Underpinning

Underpinning involves reinforcing a house's foundations to make it more stable and secure. You might consider such an upgrade in several situations. A few of these are explained below.

Symptoms and Signs

One possibility is that you've noticed clues around your home that suggest a problem. For example, you may see cracks creeping along the walls either inside or outside the building. Tiled flooring may also be showing cracks.

Other potential trouble spots are the doors and windows. They might be getting stuck and don't neatly fit within their frames. This suggests that things are out of alignment and not square. If the concrete slab underneath your house sinks on one side, this can put the walls and everything else out of sync. Of course, other things can also cause doors and windows to stick, such as expanded timber in hot weather.

Second Floor

Another reason you might consider underpinning is that you're planning a home extension. For example, you may be building a second storey, which will make the building heavier. Thus, the original foundation may not be able to cope without reinforcement. One underpinning method is to excavate around the concrete slab and pour additional concrete underneath and around the sides to increase its mass, thus making it more robust.

Natural Disasters

Unfortunately, your area may have experienced a natural disaster such as a flood, an earth tremor, or an earthquake. These events can affect a building's foundation. Earth tremors can shake things up and destabilise a house. Floods and droughts can also trigger issues by affecting the earth within which the foundational concrete slab rests.

An approach to fixing problems due to soil instability is to inject resins into the ground. The resin binds and clumps with the soil to create a more stable environment. Experts can also construct concrete pilings or long concrete nails that extend deep into the earth, beyond the surface instability.

Nearby Excavation

Another reason you may consider house underpinning is if your neighbour has undertaken excavation work. This may affect your house's foundation. An expert can check whether this is the case. Typically, a structural engineer is a specialist you'll need. They'll examine the building to see if it's sound. If not, they'll work out possible solutions. Then you'll need a construction underpinning expert to do the actual work in line with the engineer's recommendations. Alternatively, you might approach the underpinning builder first, and they'll hire a structural engineer.

For more information about house underpinning, contact a local professional.