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The Lowdown on Underpinning

By 24/02/2020June 13th, 2023No Comments

Although many property owners tend to invest in a high-quality foundation before a structure is completed in order to ensure that its weight can be fully supported, many buildings lack stability because they were built when rules and regulations were thought of as mere guidelines. As a result, subsidence is an issue that continues to affect more and more residential and commercial properties. Luckily, underpinning is a piling method that can strengthen the foundations in existing buildings. Read on as we go over everything there is to know about it…

When should underpinning be implemented?

Underpinning is a type of piling foundation that is often popular with residential property owners. After all, it may be used when soil underneath an existing foundation moves, particularly if this soil was not taken into consideration during the design phase of the building’s construction. In addition to this, underpinning may also be utilised when an existing foundation can no longer support the weight of a property or when additional floors are being implemented underground.

How many different types of underpinning is there?

In order to get the best value for money and foundation outcome, it is important that property owners invest in the right underpinning method for the requirements of their structure. In fact, there are three different types to choose from such as: concrete underpinning, which involves digging pre-determined holes and filling them with concrete; piled underpinning, which is used when the firm soil is too inadequate to support the structure and involves the implementation of steel-cased piles, and finally; jet grouting, which is an underpinning method used to create columns of grouted soil beneath an existing foundation.

Does underpinning cause disruption?

Since underpinning is traditionally used in order to reinforce the structure of an existing property, it is important that property owners take any potential disruptions into consideration. After all, it can be a messy and time-consuming solution and a property often needs to be excavated in order to reach the existing foundations below. With this said, underpinning comes with a longevity guarantee and will help protect an existing property from foundational problems like subsidence in the future.

Here at Rhino Piling, we try to cater to the needs of every client by offering a reliable, affordable and sustainable piling solution. After all, many existing buildings are plagued by foundational issues that can be difficult to solve. As the best piling in Manchester, our underpinning services are second to none! To find out more information, get in contact with a member of the Rhino Piling team today!