What is the Purpose of Underpinning Foundations?
Underpinning foundations are used when the depth of a building’s foundations need to be increased. Normally, small sections of the ground below the existing foundations of the building will be excavated before they are underpinned. This will usually be done with concrete but when the quality of the ground is so poor that using concrete isn’t possible, piling can be used instead.
This allows for some flexibility in difficult situations as there are different types of piling available that can be used for underpinning. Underpinning foundations can be used for a few different reasons. For instance, if another storey is being added on to the building, the existing foundations might not be able to take the increased load and so underpinning will be required. Also, if a house has suffered from subsidence and the current foundations have been damaged or have moved, underpinning foundations could be used to help rectify the problem.
It’s important that underpinning foundations are put into place in the correct manner, or else they could cause damage to the building. This is why it is so important to always use experienced, professional services when making any alterations to the foundations of a building.