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Underpinning, Piling and Foundations
There are many things from bad weather to a change in soil that can affect the foundations of a home. If you see any large cracks in your brickwork and walls or if your windows and doors seem to be out of alignment then underpinning might be needed. Underpinning involves supporting the initial foundations of a house or building so that the weight of the building can then be dispersed over a larger surface area. This can be done by reinforcing the foundation, strengthening the soil with expanding filler, or extending the foundation.
The term piling refers to a type of foundation that is driven into the ground to carry a load over a certain area. Transferring the load can be due to weak soil conditions (weak in structure). Essentially, pilings are generally used when the soil cannot bear the structural load of heavy construction
When is underpinning needed?
In most cases, underpinning is needed when a building’s initial foundation is not strong enough to support the structure. A weak foundation can be a result of a change in the soil due to subsidence, unrepaired plumbing, or expansion/ contraction due to moisture in the soil. A lack of proper knowledge on the properties of soil at the time of implementing a buildings’ foundation can also result in underpinning as the type of foundation may not be suitable for the building and soil type. Other reasons for underpinning include changes made to a structure during a renovation, further support for the foundations when adding another storey to a house, or a weakened, unstable foundation and structure caused by bad weather e.g., floods or earthquakes.
What are the different types of Underpinning?
There are 3 main types of underpinning: concrete slab, screw pile and grout or resin injection that can reinforce the existing foundation of a building.
Concrete Slab
This method of underpinning is one of the most popular as it is used to increase the size of the foundations. This form of underpinning is particularly used during extensions as it strengthens the foundations to be able to bear a heavier load.
Screw Pile
The screw pile method of underpinning includes combining steel piers with concrete footing which help to reinforce a building back to its original position. In doing this, it can close any gaps or cracks that have appeared in a buildings’ structure. This method of underpinning is widely used as it a permanent solution which is unlikely to be affected by any further changes in the ground.
Grout/ Resin Injection
Although this method is not technically an underpinning method, it still can be used to support the foundations of a building. This method includes injecting resin or grout into the ground to fill up any gaps in the foundation. The grout then expands to compress the ground. This method is fairly new and is not suited for all foundations or soil conditions.
How much does it cost for underpinning a building?
There are many factors that can affect the cost of underpinning for example, the type of underpinning you choose, the scale of subsidence or your location. As a guide, a breakdown of costs for underpinning are builder’s hourly rate £50 to £100 per hour, concrete slab method £1500 to £2000 per m3, piling £2500 m2 and for a resin and grout injection £1200 m3.
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