Carrying Out Construction Work

Posted on: 26 April 2021

A foundation plays a critical role in a structure. It supports the load of the entire house and keeps the structure standing amidst natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and strong winds. However, depending on how well it was built, a residential foundation can suffer weakness when exposed to certain conditions. 

Therefore, it becomes necessary to reinforce it through a process known as house underpinning. Below are the instances when you need to underpin your foundation to improve the structural integrity of your house.

When building an extra storey 

Storey additions provide an excellent way of expanding your home without using up the floor space. However, the original structure's foundation may not have been designed to withstand extra weight. This is especially true for houses with shallow foundations. The weight of the additional storey can cause the foundation to settle and spell problems for your structure.

Foundation underpinning enables you to build an extra storey without worrying about the structural integrity of your home. During this process, contractors install vertical support columns to reinforce the load-bearing posts of the foundation. The piers used are driven deep into the ground beyond the load-bearing soil. Thus, your foundation should support the extra weight and withstand ground movement.

After undertaking excavation work

Homeowners often undertake excavation projects to repair drain pipes, build pools, install hardscapes, construct sheds and much more. When undertaken too close to the home's foundation, these jobs can destabilise the foundation in the following ways:

• Physical damage: During excavation, you may accidentally damage the foundation walls, which can cause cracking and settling.
• Soil disturbance: Shallow foundations rely on the stability of the soil to handle your structure's weight. Excavation work may disturb the soil around the foundation, leading to foundation settling.

If you have recently undertaken any excavations near your house, inspect your foundation for potential damage. If you have a shallow foundation, underpin it to protect it from settling.

Before making structural modifications

Are you planning any major structural modifications? Perhaps knock down a few walls, install a concrete patio or remodel an old basement? Some structural modifications can shift your building's balance. This allows the foundation to shift, which can cause problems down the road. For example, tampering with load-bearing walls can affect the structural integrity of your home.

Before making any major modifications to your house, consult a structural expert. They should assess the structure's blueprints, check the foundation specifications and inspect the current state of the foundation. The findings will determine whether the intended modifications will disrupt stability. If so, you need to underpin the house before commencing the remodels.

Foundation damage may take a while to occur but when it does, it's expensive to repair. Thus, underpin your house when undertaking the above tasks to prevent future structural problems.