We bought our house knowing it needed a fair bit of work, but we could never have guessed how complicated the job would get in the end. It turns out not only do we have asbestos in the walls, but also, at some point, the previous owners had some asbestos insulation put in the roof. There are a lot more precautions that we need to make as result but, I'll feel a lot better knowing we aren't cooking and eating our meals near asbestos. Our remodeling contractor has been great and has stepped us through the whole process. Join us on our remodeling journey!
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Sometimes, a renovation project will involve more than simply internal remodelling, repair and cosmetic w
Sometimes, a renovation project will involve more than simply internal remodelling, repair and cosmetic work. Occasionally, you may need to take into account the stability of the entire structure and may need to look downward at ground stabilisation. If your upcoming job is substantial, what do you need to think about before you make too many detailed plans?
Reasons to Take Care
When your structure was originally built, the engineers and contractors would have installed the foundation to cope with the building as planned. It is unlikely that they would have taken additional measures to allow for major renovation in the future, and anyway, the nature of the ground itself may well have changed since your home was first constructed.
Creating Additional Pressure
You may be thinking about converting your downstairs area into an open plan. This may involve adding a new RSJ while removing a partially load-bearing wall or other measures that could have a bearing on the structural integrity of the entire house. You need to ask yourself whether the foundation can now withstand the additional load or altered load dynamic while taking into account any subsidence that may already be in place.
Underpinning
Still, there's no need to be particularly alarmed as you can bring in contractors who specialise in underpinning. They will be able to stabilise the soil and introduce additional piles if necessary to shore up the foundation.
To begin with, they will determine the nature of the soil to see how it deals with water on an everyday basis. Clay soils may tend to contract or expand a lot more, which can challenge a foundation, but more grainy soils can lead to subsidence when water moves more freely.
Different Solutions
To cope with this, the contractor may pump concrete into any voids below the surface or create special boxes if the foundation is quite shallow. They can even introduce a concrete beam placed on special bases or dig a sequence of piles connected to each other in a matrix.
Sustainable Options
The contractor might also inject a geopolymer mixture, which is a special resin designed for the purpose. This resin will expand when it is in place, hardening to create a stable and long-lasting surface. Many people think this is a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional cement.
Over to the Experts
Take the guesswork out of your renovation by bringing in underpinning experts. They'll come up with the best solution so you can proceed with your project. Contact a local underpinning service to learn more.
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