What is Underpinning?
As a homeowner, you may have heard the term “foundation underpinning.” Though common, many are unfamiliar with its meaning or process. Underpinning strengthens and stabilizes foundations that have settled, cracked, or weakened over time, impacting the foundation’s ability to bear weight.
If you’re considering repair options, this page outlines the underpinning definition and process, helping you determine whether it’s the right solution for your foundation.
Foundation Underpinning: What is it?
Underpinning foundation methods reinforce and stabilize house and building foundations. This technique extends the existing foundation, distributing the weight load evenly across a greater area. Underpinning involves soil type and condition assessment, followed by careful excavation until the structural base is reinforced. This process creates a more stable and safe foundation.
When is Underpinning Necessary?
There are several reasons why underpinning a house may be necessary, including:
Foundation Sinking and Settlement
Foundation settlement is often caused by compromised soil. A sinking foundation usually results from soil erosion and washout, compromising the entire structure. This damage causes significant safety risks. Underpinning for houses stabilizes your house, returning it to safety.
Improper Soil Compaction or Erosion
Improper soil compaction or leveling during the initial house construction can lead to a subpar-quality build. This unevenness can cause voids in the ground and foundation cracks. Underpinning addresses these issues, creating a more stable structure.
Load-Bearing Weight Change
Underpinning may be necessary as the structure’s usage weight changes. An example includes transforming a residential property into a commercial space. This process accommodates increased weight, such as foot traffic, automobiles, heavy machinery, or other equipment. Underpinning stabilizes the foundation, enabling it to support excessive weights without compromising integrity.
If your property experiences any of the above issues, contact a foundation repair expert for a free inspection to determine if underpinning is needed for your structure.
How to Determine if Your House Needs Underpinning
Underpinning is necessary for cracked, sinking, and compromised foundations. Several signs signal the need for foundation reinforcement. These include:
If you notice potential signs of foundation damage, don’t neglect them. Contact a foundation repair expert for a free inspection. Addressing the signs of damage early will prevent costly repairs and further damage.
Foundation Underpinning Methods
Professionals recommend various solutions for stabilizing and lifting damaged foundations. Here are a few common underpinning types:
Mini-Piled Underpinning
Foundation piers are a mini-piled underpinning type used to stabilize foundations. Here are three primary pier types Groundworks offers:
- Push piers: These piers are hydraulically driven into the ground, stabilizing and potentially lifting the foundation to its original position. Push piers are made from galvanized steel and resist rust caused by ground moisture.
- Helical piers: Similar to push piers, helical piers are screwed into the ground and are used in soil where push piers cannot be driven. They are ideal for sinking or moving structures due to unstable soil conditions.
- Slab piers: These piers support concrete slab foundations. Slab piers restore stability by lifting and supporting the slab and preventing future settling.
The exact pier type used for your property depends on the severity of the damage, the location, accessibility, and soil conditions. Most professionals, including Groundworks, provide free inspections to determine the right course of action.
Mass Concrete Underpinning
When extensive support is needed, mass concrete underpinning is used. This method excavates the underlying soil and replaces it with large concrete slabs, supporting foundations experiencing widespread issues.
Jack Pile Underpinning
Jack pile underpinning utilizes vibration-free hydraulic jacks to lift existing foundations and allow new supportive component installation underneath. This underpinning type precisely lifts foundations housed on various soil types.
Beam and Base Underpinning
Beam and base underpinning consists of installing reinforced steel or concrete beams under the existing foundation. These beams support the foundation and are connected to the structure to increase stability. This approach strengthens compromised foundations and restores structural integrity, especially when full excavation isn’t practical.
If you’re unsure whether your foundation needs underpinning, contact local foundation repair experts for a free inspection. They will assess the issue and recommend the appropriate underpinning solution based on your structure and soil conditions.
How Much Does Underpinning Cost?
Foundation underpinning costs vary based on location, damage extent, soil conditions, regional pricing, and other factors. Contact a local foundation repair expert like Groundworks for a free inspection and a customized repair plan that fits your needs and budget.
Contact Groundworks for Expert Underpinning Solutions
Concerned about potential foundation damage? Groundworks offers free expert inspections. If underpinning is the right solution for your property, we will create a customized repair plan tailored to your needs and budget. Our team will answer your questions honestly, ensuring you feel confident throughout the process. Contact us today to get started!
Foundation Repair FAQs
The path to the right underpinning solution may not be completely obvious at first. Quite frankly, foundation repair isn’t easy, and it can be complicated to understand exactly what you need from foundation repair. Here’s what you need to know about determining the best solution and why you shouldn’t go it alone.
- The Worries of DIY
If you’re the type of person who tends to prefer DIY options to non-DIY, you might wonder whether you could DIY the underpinning process. The problem with this is that underpinning requires a lot of technical knowledge. That’s why it’s best not to try and DIY the underpinning process; you’re likely to harm your foundation rather than help it.
- Talk to a Foundation Repair Expert
It can be counterintuitive to talk to an expert as soon as you realize there could be a problem with your foundation. Many people want to do their best to fix the problem themselves. However, in this situation, it’s better to hand the reins over to someone who knows what they’re doing. Talk to a Groundworks expert to learn more about your underpinning options.
The duration of foundation repair depends on the extent of the damage and the type of repair needed, but most repairs can be completed within a few days to a couple of weeks.
In most cases, you can stay in your home during repairs. However, there might be some noise and temporary disruption depending on the extent of the work.
