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Underpinning

Underpinning

Underpinning is used in construction to strengthen foundations, which otherwise would be dangerous if no action was taken. Underpinning is often carried outto support an extension above an existing room, so the new weight can be supported.

There are plenty of reasons you could opt for underpinning, including:

  • Strengthening the foundations

This is extremely important to ensure the continued safety of your property, especiallyin older homes. If you’re planning an extension above an existingroom it’ll be worthwhile hiring a professional to investigate thecurrent underpinning.

  • The building’s use has changed

When there is more pressure being placed on the property, the underpinning will need tobe improved. The use of the building could have changed, from a houseto a shop for example.

  • Soil changes

The ground underneath your property can often change, especially if there hasbeen movement or subsidence. This will put your safety at risk andunderpinning will immediately strengthen the building.

  • New developments

The building of newhomes can cause an effect on existing properties nearby. If there’sa new development it will be worth strengthening your underpinning toaccommodate any changes.

  • Land price increases

As the cost of landand property rises, it could be a good idea to strengthen yourexisting underpinning with a view to improving your home. Adding anextension or even a whole new floor, would require improved underpinning.

 

Things to consider before getting underpinning done

The most common reason that necessitates underpinning remedial work is subsidence. When you notice significant cracks in the wall and even more so when around the door or window frames, this is a huge sign of subsidence and should be tackled without delay. This subsidence may have been caused by erosion, a leaky gutter, or perhaps when the quality of the soil is too poor to support the weight of the building. On the other hand, underpinning might also be required in the event whereby you’ve made some improvements which increases the load on the foundation. Regardless of why you need to carry out an underpinning project, there are some things should be put into consideration before moving forward. In this post, we’re going to consider a few of these things in order to help you make an informed decision. Let’s take a look!

  • Hiring an expert. When choosing a professional, it’s crucial to take adequate care. Underpinning can be a quite expensive project and the more reason why it should be done by a reliable and reputable contractor. There’s always the temptation to go for the cheapest quote, but it’s always advisable to choose a company that specialises in the underpinning method you’ve selected.
  • Professional advice. Getting an expert opinion from a surveyor or structural engineer before making any decision is quite essential. It may be a minor case that’s not more than having drains fixed or a tree root uprooted but the building could still need to be underpinned.

 

What Qualifications or Accreditations do Underpinning builders need?

Underpinning a building is a very huge project which can cause a lot of damage if carried out by the wrong person and as such, the recruitment process must not be handled with levity. In fact, often times it pays to carry out your own research, even when an underpinning builder has been recommended to you, just to make sure they’re the right person or company for your job. Accreditations and qualifications are crucial as they represent a way of backing up knowledge as well as expertise – just like any other professional’s qualifications. So, even if you’re happy with the way your recommended underpinning builder has said they’re able to deliver a top quality job at a competitive price, do not forget to request their certifications. All reputable businesses would be glad to be selected for a job on this basis.

The type of building qualification certificates underpinning builders may possess includes the following: health and safety certificates (this would be more reliable if they’re from approved certifiers like Constructionline and CHAS), joinery certificates, wood occupation certificates, site carpentry certificates as well as electrotechnical technology installation certificates.

With that in mind, often times the most important thing would be to check that an underpinning builder is registered for the work which they’re going to be carrying out – underpinning. Most of these builders would be registered with NHBC which is known to be the leading independent standard setting body for building of new homes in the UK, so you can ask for this. In the event whereby you haven’t come across a builder through personal recommendation, you should make sure to ask for samples of similar works they’ve carried out recently.

 

How Much do Underpinning cost?

In the event whereby you notice a large unsightly crack in the brickwork of your property or you observe the sticking after easing of your windows and doors, then there’s a high chance your property is having structural movement and foundation subsidence issues. If this is the case, then underpinning of your property becomes crucial. In this post, we’re going to consider the cost of underpinning in order to help you set a budget and start to plan. Let’s take a look!

 

First and foremost, it must be stated that providing a short and accurate answer to this question is almost impossible as there are a number of factors that influences underpinning cost. These factors include the structural engineer hired, the scale of the subsidence, the cause of the subsidence, labour rates, insurance policy, party-wall agreements and lots more.

In general, the average cost of underpinning a property in the UK also depends on the method you use as well as the scale of the job. Underpinning is a process that involves several stages, however on the average, the following price range applies:

  • Structural engineer will charge within the range of £50 to about £100 per hour.
  • For a concrete material, you should expect to incur £1500 to about £2000 per m3.
  • Piling will cost within the range of £2400 to £2700 per m2.
  • Resin inject will cost within the range of £1000 to about £1500 per m3.
  • A cantilever needle beam will cost within the range of £1800 to about £2200 per m2.

From the above, it’s quite obvious underpinning can be quite expensive and even more so, if ignored to a long period of time.

 

Underpinning quotes

You and your family’s safety will always be priority number one andstrengthening your underpinning will not only add protection to your home, but save you on maintenance costs later down the line.

If you’re interested in improving your home’s underpinning, just complete our quick form below and receive quotes from up to four vetted and reputable companies in your area.

Average Underpinning cost

The regular cost of Underpinning is £3,193 in your area. Costs fluctuate based on the materials and the company hired. The upper price range can be as high as £5,878.

Average price per Underpinning job in 2024

Avg. price low

Avg. price low
£475

Avg. price

Avg. price
£3,193

Avg. price high

Avg. price high
£5,878

£6400

£4800

£3200

£1600

£0

Prices based on actual Underpinning costs for your area, as reported by local Quotatis members.

Underpinning installation cost in your area 2024

Labour cost £2,100
Material cost £750
Waste removal £150
Time frame: 3-5 days

Underpinning Manufacturers

Underpinning FAQs

Can builders work on a Sunday?

General construction work should be restricted to the following hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. Saturdays 8am to 1pm. Most councils advice that noisy work is prohibited on Sundays and bank holidays but you should check with your local council to confirm this.

How long does underpinning last

Have you been advised by a structural engineer or a surveyor that your building needs to be underpinned? Well, this might just have you wondering what underpinning really is and how long it lasts. In this post, we’re going to tell you more about underpinning to help you make the best-informed decision possible moving forward. Let’s take a look!

Basically, underpinning refers to the incorporation of one of various methods to reinforce or repair the old foundations of a building or structure mostly to remedy or avoid subsidence. Now, subsidence can be caused as a result of poor soil quality, increase in the load on the foundation like adding a new storey, excavations below the building as well as inadequate foundation which is more common in older buildings. When an underpinning remedial work is carried out, there are a plethora of benefits that comes with it. It’s preserves the structural integrity of your building by strengthening it, make it a lot more attractive, increases the property’s value and makes it a lot safer for both you and your loved ones. So how long does underpinning last?

Well, many underpinning contractors will offer you a 10-year guarantee of its underpinning solutions for defects. Primarily, there are two reasons why underpinning can fail which is poor installation and fresh issues arising or unforeseen circumstances. While the first is an issue that can be avoided by employing the services of an expert contractor who possesses vast experience and knowledge in the field, the second can not be avoided. However, in the absence of the unforeseen issues, underpinning is expected to last for the natural life of the building, so far it has been expertly installed.

How can I find a builder in my area?

Finding a builder nearby can have enormous assistance when it comes to your build. Period on site, their familiarity of local planning permission, constructors’ dealers and other local trades are all vital bits of knowledge that you’ll welcome on site.

It is always wise to walk around in your local area or drive to a site where any construction work is going on. It’ll give you a proper impression of the constructors who are active nearby. You don’t have to like their style of work or the project they are currently carrying out – after all, a builder can only produce what’s on the plans in front of them.

Find a Builder Other Tradesmen Recommend

If you’ve had to call an electrician before or a local plumber and liked their work, you can always ask them if they have any builders whom they would recommend. Maximum tradesmen get used to seeing the similar acquainted names from one place to another in the sites they are working on and every so often has favourites for who they like to work with — and who they see as a good source of work.

Always Talk to Previous Customers

Once you’ve found a builder you would like to work with, ask them for a list of previous customers they have worked with; they ought to be glad to offer particulars if they’re self-assured they’ve done an effective job.

Look for a builder online

A decent place to start looking for builders online is on sites like the ours so that you can find quality tradespeople and see genuine reviews from previous customers. Not all online review sites can be trusted to display real reviews.

How to underpin a house

The importance of underpinning a house cannot be overemphasized. Firstly, what is underpinning? Well, underpinning is simply the act of reinforcing, repairing, strengthening or improving the depth of an existing foundation by lowering the footing to ensure that it rests more on more reliable and supportive soil. Not only does this method help to strengthen your building and preserve its structural integrity, but it also does increase your property’s value and gives you peace of mind knowing your property is safe. If you’re thinking about underpinning your house, you have two options – do it yourself or call in a reputable structural engineer. The latter is more advisable as the method involves a lot of specialized knowledge, skills and tools to guarantee a successful outcome. In this post, we’re going to take you through the process involved in underpinning a house. Let’s take a look!

To get started, you should know that concrete underpinning features excavating pier footings around the building at about 2 to 3 metres distance between each other. In some cases, underpins can be installed from within the house. The footings of the underpin should go very deep into the underlying soil in such a way that fully supports the weight of the building or structure. Once done, now proceed to attaching the new footing to the building. You can achieve this by excavating underneath the existing footing to make for a stronger prop. Individual prop and pier arrangement is then strengthened using strong steel bars. Once completed, the concrete is then poured.

A professional underpinning contractor will make sure there’s sufficient space left between the existing footings and the new underpins as this space will ensure that the new underpins can be easily used to jack up the house and level it once the poured concrete cures.

When is underpinning required

If you’re currently experiencing some structural issues with your building or property and you’ve heard a thing or two about the several benefits associated with getting underpinning done, you may be wondering if underpinning might just be the answer to your worries. Well, one thing you should when it comes to underpinning is the fact that, while there are some structural issues that may actually warrant an underpinning job, there are also some situations that can not be fixed by underpinning. In this post, we’re going to consider the events whereby underpinning of your house will be required. Let’s take a look!

First and foremost, you should know that underpinning isn’t required for issues related to slab heave. Footing movements which are likely to reverse normally occur when the content of the soil moisture changes unevenly which gives rise to slab heave. This movement results for a reversible effect.

Generally, underpinning is done to remedy problems related with the movement of the footings of a building or property, but as stated above – not all movements require underpinning. So, when is underpinning required? More often than not, a situation that’s resolved by underpinning is the event whereby the footings of a building or structure drops or subside as a result of some reasons that are irreversible. For example, footing movements caused by a footing set on a soft or loose soil which may be irreversible.

In the event whereby the footings of your house haven’t been installed as deep as required during the initial construction, then you will need to have your building underpinned to make it more stable. If you’re also looking to increase the load on your foundation like adding another storey, you may also need to have your house underpinned to support the extra weight added.

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