Does My House Need Underpinning?

Rectify
February 26, 2024

Your home may require underpinning if you notice obvious signs such as cracks in plaster, brickwork, render, or expansion joints opening up and uneven or sloping floors.

Signs harder to detect are windows and doors that are out of square and do not close properly, or gaps forming beside windows/doors. 

What is underpinning?

Underpinning is the process of strengthening and reinforcing the soil/foundation of a building by treating the load bearing soils and helping to support the structure. Today there are multiple ways this can be achieved.

Resin Injection

Mass concrete

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Screw Piles
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When is underpinning required? 

Underpinning is generally required when there is a change in the soil structure that supports the foundation. This change could be a result of,

  • A rapid change in moisture content in the soil that supports the home can lead to either drying, causing the soil to contract, or ingress of water, saturating the soil and reducing its bearing capacity.
  • Damage to plumbing such as stormwater, sewer pipes and water lines.
  • Poorly compacted fill.
  • Footing design may be inadequate for the class of soil on which the home is built.
  • Trees close to the home can be a factor in removing moisture from the surrounding soil.
  • Building works such as extensions or new homes being built nearby can affect the footing of a building if they are nearby.
  • Natural disasters such as drought, floods, and earthquakes, whilst well out of our control, can cause some of the worst subsidence.

Identifying the root cause of footing subsidence is a strenuous undertaking. But it’s essential for successfully addressing subsidence issues and ensuring the long-term stability of your home’s footing following underpinning.

If you suspect your home may require underpinning, consulting with underpinning experts to evaluate the condition of your home’s foundations, slabs, the surrounding soil, and any potential moisture-related concerns is an excellent initial step.

How long does underpinning last? 

Given the underlying issues that have caused subsidence are treated e.g. leaking pipe, raingarden beside footing etc. then the underpinning should last for the duration of structure life. At Rectify, as underpinning experts we do offer 10 year workmanship warranty, and general consensus is it should last at least 10 years after chemical underpinning is utilised. 
When engaging underpinning contractors, it is essential to check how much warranty they give, and check the amount of warranty on workmanship rather than product warranty.

Amelia Martin

Rectify Editorial Lead
Amelia Martin's expertise in structural engineering is matched only by her eloquence in writing about it. With numerous successful projects under her belt, she's a respected voice in the industry. When not advocating for building longevity, Amelia enjoys hosting backyard barbecues, playing the didgeridoo, and mastering the art of Australian Rules Football.

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Ahmet Seker
Ahmet Seker
06:44 17 Jul 24
naz d
naz d
23:06 14 Jul 24
Booked my job with Sam from rectify . He was very professional , attentive and very accommodating. Knowing the urgency of my job as I was selling it , he was able to attend to job asap. Highly recommend Sam and rectify . Great work
Alan Prothero
Alan Prothero
10:20 02 Jul 24
The team turned up on time and carried out the work efficiently. Although my cracked render didn't close up totally, I'm happy in the knowledge that the ground is underpinned. When I get the cracks repaired, they are unlikely to crack again. Thanks again, guys.
Michael Kilpatrick
Michael Kilpatrick
01:38 27 Jun 24
Rectify were very professional to deal with and completed the job on time and on budget.All the employees I dealt with were also very friendly and easy to get on with.For the first time in years, my front door frame is rectangular and I can open and close my front windows.
Hala Sharkas
Hala Sharkas
23:50 14 Jun 24
I cannot recommend this company enough, they were absolutely incredible! From my first meeting with Phil I felt assured that he knew exactly what he was talking about and he made the stressful situation we were going through so much easier. We then had Sam come out and he was fantastic and again put us at ease so it was a no drainer that we would be going with them. The team that came and completed the job were again so amazing, professional and friendly. They left the house so clean and made sure to inform me of what was happening every step of the way. Thank you to the Rectify team for an amazing experience from start to finish.
Brentan Amadori
Brentan Amadori
23:47 14 Jun 24
Amazing team and service! I am so happy with how everything went for my house lift!Everyone was patient with my questions, knew exactly what they were doing, kept us in the loop, and the whole experience just filled me with confidence.I spent alot of time researching companies for this type of work andI highly, highly recommend them.There are alot of cowboys out there and these guys are the definition of professional, from start to finish.Thanks again!
Robert Walkley
Robert Walkley
06:53 19 Apr 24
Rectify was really prompt with their service, did a great job explaining the details of the problem, the work involved, and the process to correct it. The resin injection process is very precise and can be targetted with great accuracy. The work itself didn't take long at all and the turn around time was great; having the work done about a week after agreeing to the quote. Highly recommend.
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