We were contacted by a homeowner who was concerned about the amount of movement in her home. She hadn’t lived in the house for long but after they had moved in, they noticed cracks appearing in the extension that had been completed by the previous owners. We recommended a couple of structural engineers who would be able to complete designs for underpinning. The client had contacted the insurance company who had previously completed a structural report on the property however no one had taken responsibility and the client was left with a moving extension. Their chosen structural engineer completed structural calculations that would allow us to provide an accurate costing and proposal of works.
Several site visits were arranged from the first contact with the client, at the initial site meeting we supplied and installed Tell Tales (crack monitoring) to the areas that had movement. We were able to regularly monitor the movement and keep the client up to date while waiting for the engineer’s calculations. This allowed the engineer to see the directions in which the extension was moving and at what speed enabling him to create the final design. Once we received the design confirming what method would work best on-site, we sent a full quotation to the client who immediately agreed and a start date was confirmed. Before work commenced, all health and safety RAMs were emailed to the client. A site meeting with our operations manager was arranged where he marked out the locations in which the needles would be formed ready for the next day’s work.
Day 1 – our team arrived on-site to excavate 4 needles and installed one pile driven to 6 metres, before being able to excavate the needles our team set about breaking through the client’s hardstanding areas removing any tarmac and flags that would be in the way of the works.
Day 2 – our team drove 5 piles to the required depth and all steel was fabricated.
Day 3 – the remaining piles were driven to the required depth and set. Cages were installed. The building control officer than attended site confirming the works had been carried correctly and to the engineers’ exact design. we were then able to concrete that afternoon
Day 4 – the remainder of the underpins were excavated and 3 piles were driven to there required sets at 8meters
Day 5 – our team installed the last 5 piles to the set and depth, all steel was also fabricated ready for the following day.
Day 6 – Our team pocketed out into the brickwork in preparation for the final concrete pour. Our team then installed the cages and pile bars ready for the building control offi8cers final inspection. On inspection, he confirmed that the work again was to the engineers exact design and the work was then signed off, allowing us to complete the final pour. Concrete was then poured to the required level and our team cleaned up the site handing it back to the client with the house now secured.
