Have you noticed cracks appearing in the walls? Doors that will not shut properly? Or maybe the floor feels a bit wonky? If you’re thinking “that’s not right,” you are probably correct. Buildings should not move, and when they do, it is usually time to call in the professionals.
What’s Underpinning All About Then?
Let’s cut through the fancy construction speak. Underpinning is basically fixing dodgy foundations. When the ground under your building cannot hold it up properly anymore, underpinning gives it something solid to sit on.
We dig down under your existing foundations – carefully, mind you – and put in robust support, using stronger materials and better methods. It is a bit like fixing the legs on a wobbly table, except the table is your house and falling over is not an option!
Why Do Foundations Go Wrong?
Buildings do not just decide to start sinking for a laugh. There is always a reason:
- Ground problems are usually the main culprit. Clay soil that swells and shrinks with the weather, nearby building work shaking everything up, or big trees drinking all the moisture from under your foundations.
- Water issues cause no end of trouble. Burst pipes, bad drainage, flooding – water gets where it should not and weakens the ground supporting your building.
- Old foundations that were not up to much in the first place. What passed for foundations 60 years ago would not meet today’s standards, and if you are adding an extension, the old foundations definitely will not cope.
- Soil erosion – basically the ground under your building washing away bit by bit. Happens more than you would think, especially if you are near water or on a slope.
Why Bother Getting It Fixed?
- It stops the problem getting worse – If you ignore subsidence it will not go away. It will keep getting worse until you are looking at major structural damage or even having to knock the place down.
- It is cheaper than starting again – Yes, underpinning costs money, but nowhere near as much as demolishing and rebuilding. Plus you keep your existing property with all its quirks.
- You can actually live through it – Modern underpinning does not mean months of chaos. Most residential jobs are done without you having to pack up and move out completely.
- Your house value does not crash – Foundation problems are a buyer’s worst nightmare.
Old Buildings Need Special Care
Listed buildings and old properties cannot just be ripped apart and rebuilt. There are rules about what you can and cannot do, plus you want to preserve the character that makes them special.
Underpinning works brilliantly for historic buildings because you can strengthen the foundations without wrecking everything above ground. It means we can save buildings that might otherwise be lost.
What Separates Good Work from Bad?
- Experience counts
- Having the right kit
- Qualifications
Vxcel’s been doing this for over 15 years and worked with everyone from football clubs to hospitals. That does not happen by accident.
Different Jobs, Different Problems
- Home extensions often need underpinning because the existing foundations were not built to carry extra weight. Sort this out properly and your extension will not cause problems later.
- Commercial work tends to be bigger and more complex, often with tight deadlines and other trades to work around. Needs careful planning and coordination.
- Retaining walls are specialist jobs where you are basically building walls to hold back earth or water. Get these wrong and you are looking at serious damage down the line.
Why Location Doesn’t Matter
Foundation problems happen everywhere, and different areas have different challenges. London has got complex underground conditions, Manchester is dealing with industrial legacy issues and Yorkshire’s soil varies massively, even within the same town.
Having specialists who work nationwide means you are not stuck with whoever happens to be local. You get people who understand your specific area’s problems and have the right experience to deal with them.
Getting Help Before It Gets Worse
If you are seeing warning signs – and you probably know what they are – do not just hope they will go away. They will not. Foundation problems always get worse over time, and fixing them early costs a lot less than waiting until it is an emergency.
Most reputable firms will come and have a look without charging you, so you can find out what you are dealing with before committing to anything. At least then you will know whether you need to worry or not.
The thing about foundation problems is they seem terrifying until you understand what is actually going wrong and what can be done about it. Nine times out of ten, there is a solution that does not involve knocking your building down and starting again.
Get the right people in, get it done by Vxcel Piling Contractors, and you can stop worrying about whether your walls are going to fall down. Because they will not.
