reblocking, releveling and underpinning

source: http://www.betterfoundations.com.au/
Contact Details
Ph: (03) 9304 4844 Mob: 0409 180 821 Fax: (03) 9354 6870

Reblocking

Re-blocking means the replacement of rotted and defected stumps which causes structural damage to a new concrete or red gum stumps this will involve the re-levelling of the house.
Re-blocking is needed when:

Cracks on the plaster
Doors and windows are stuck
Floors sloping
Cracks in the floor or tiles

Re-levelling and extra stumps

Because of extreme weather and poor soil condition or plumbing leaks some of the houses with a concrete stumps needed re-levelling or extra stumps to support the structure of the house If any signs of

Cracks on plaster,
doors and windows are stuck,
floor sloping or not level.
Do not paint or renovate until the house is supported with extra stumps or re-levelled…..

Definitions of underpinning

Underpinning is a means of transferring foundation loads to deeper soil supported by new concrete pad to provide vertical support that is not present in the existing footing.

Causes and signs of foundation failure:

Foundation damage tends to happen very slowly, so its often difficult to notice it.Moisture beneath the center of your foundation remains consistent unless aggravated by the introduction of excess moisture, such as plumbing leaks or sub-surface water movement. As evaporation and transpiration cause the soils to dry and shrink around the perimeter of your foundation, the structure begins to move. Uneven moisture causes uneven movement, which can lead to structural and cosmetic damage to your home.

Evaporation - hot dry wind and intense heat will often cause the soil to shrink beneath the foundation. This settlement may cause cracks to appear throughout the structure.

Transpiration – Tree roots may desiccate the soil beneath a home causing the soil to shrink and the home to settle.

Plumbing Leaks – Water from plumbing leaks is often a cause of foundation repair.

Drainage – Improper drainage is a leading cause of foundation failure. Excess moisture will erode or consolidate soils and cause settlement.

Inferior Foundation Construction – Insufficient steel and inferior concrete will contribute to movement on the slabs of perimeter foundations.

Poor Soil Conditions – Poor soil and its expansion and/or contraction contribute to foundation failure.

Extreme Weather – Hot, dry weather and cool, wet weather cause soil to expand and contract unevenly causing differential foundation movement.

Signs of foundation problems:

Signs on the inside of the home

Misaligned doors and windows
Cracks in the plaster
Doors and windows that stick
Sloping of the floor
Cracks in the floor or tile

Signs on the outside of the home

Cracks in the brick
Gaps around the doors and windows
Cracks in the foundation
Fascial board pulling away

Signs in the garage

Separation from door
Wall rotating outward
Cracked Brick
Signs in the basement
Walls leaning in or out
Cracks in the wall
Water intrusion

Foundation maintenance

Homeowners can take active steps to maintain their foundations. Typically these include watering the foundation to keep the soil near the foundation (uniform) moist.Changes in the grading around the house such as fencing or planting beds immediately diagnose and repair any plumbing leaks.After all when the house needs the foundation repair, the homeowner should consider the risk that something worse might happen and the loss of resale value in the home because this is a complex and sometimes emotional issue with every day trade-off between budget and the new cracks on the plaster or brick wall.

Underpinning Process

A site inspection of the property is required to investigate the damage; a detailed quotation will be given explaining the cost involved for each pin. If the owner would like to go ahead with the quotation, they are required to sign a contract which will be sent out for signing.Our engineer will inspect the site to determine the amount of pins required and to draw the plan explaining the depth and the positions of the pins.Once we receive the plan, our underpinning team will set out to prepare the property for the work to commence. During this process, concrete, doors, fence etc may need to be removed.

Once the area is prepared, the holes for the pins will be cleaned out for council inspection.After the inspection, the concrete is placed in to the pin holes leaving enough space for jacking, the concrete needs approximately three to four days to cure. Once the concrete is fully cured, our underpinning team will return to the site to attempt to jack the building back to the original level. After this procedure, the concrete will be placed in to the pin holes. Our team will ensure that no gap exists between the underpinning concrete and the existing concrete footing.