More weather dismay heightens need for underpinning
Underpinning of foundations remains a likely prospect for buildings of all kinds in areas of the UK, following a month of stark contrast in terms of rainfall.
With heavy rains frequently forecasted by meteorologists, weather warnings for the whole country issued by the Met Office, and images of flooding making the news, you could be forgiven for thinking the deluges have been nationwide.
However, the Met Office has confirmed that, although June was the wettest on record in Wales and Northern Ireland, and for the UK as a whole, it was only the second-wettest in English history, and ranked just eighth on Scotland’s records list.
In certain parts of the north-west UK, it was actually one of the driest months since records began, with a few wet days at the end of the month just tipping the scales past the all-time lows seen by several weather stations.
Either way, it is these extremes of weather – rather than moderate and consistent levels of rainfall and sunshine – that can leave soil either waterlogged, and therefore less stable, or dried out and more prone to crumbling.
For properties in the worst-affected areas, it could be wise to check whether structural stability has held in this year of stark contrast, or whether underpinning methods may be needed to restore strength to foundations.