Underpinning

Underpinning provides additional support to existing foundations in residential or commercial buildings that are unable to safely support existing loads.

Additional piling is often required when ground subsidence has caused foundations to sink. This is often triggered by moisture changes in the soil, nearby tree roots, or failing retaining walls. Early signs that foundations are sinking are when doors and windows start jamming and/or cracks in walls are appearing, either internally or externally.

Depending on the situation, we will underpin using screw piles, reinforced concrete piles, or in some rare cases, driven steel piles. If lifting a house or building is required, we will use a corbel system under the existing footings with hydraulic rams attached to the corbels.

Tight access and low headroom can be problematic when underpinning existing buildings. Our M Trak and TC7 micro piling machines are often used to complete underpinning projects.

Common Applications

• Repairing and strengthening existing building foundations
• Buildings that require additional storeys
• Where usage of the structure has been modified
• Earthquake strengthening
• Sinking or subsiding footings