Imagine: You are drinking a coffee in your Melbourne home and a crack starts to form on the wall of your living area check this. Fear starts to grip you. What’s next? What happens next?
Let’s first deconstruct underpinning. The main goal of strengthening an existing structure’s foundation is to make it more stable. You can do this by providing your home with sturdy boots. Easy, huh? Beware of being duped.
Why, then, would anyone be interested in this? Melbourne’s climate and soil are notoriously unpredictable. One day it may be compact and dry. The next, the soil will become saturated with water. It can cause foundations to shift and settle unevenly.
What is the best way to go about this complicated process? Imagine it like surgery in your own home. To begin with, you should excavate all the surrounding areas. Digging deep enough is necessary to get stable soils or rocks below the surface. After carefully placing the concrete, it is then added to the initial foundation in order to create additional footings.
Are you familiar with screw piles in the ground? Massive metal screw piles have been drilled deep into the earth to add more support. Consider them as reinforcements of the recently-mentioned shoes.
Many people believe that only older homes need underpinning. Untrue! Even in modern construction, foundation problems can be caused by poor initial building or unforeseeable changes in soil condition.
Money is a topic that no one likes. It’s expensive, but consider it as an investment. A good foundation may eventually increase the value of your property and give you peace ofmind.
It is important to select someone to handle this delicate task. You wouldn’t entrust just anyone to your surgery would you? You would not trust just anyone with your procedure, would you? Choose seasoned experts that have excellent reviews and the required credentials.
Last year, Jane (who lives in a Victorian home) discovered squeaky floors and walls that gave her the feeling of being on a sledge! She worked closely with a trusted business that guided and educated her at every step. No technical explanations were used to intimidate Jane into submission!
Do not wait for the gaps to widen and become huge chasms. Early action is the best way to prevent future damage, save money and reduce time.
Please, do not make this sound bad. Also, underpinning is a great way to add or modify without worrying about its structural integrity.
You might be concerned that your daily routine will be disrupted (and why wouldn’t you? Many companies offer solutions designed to minimize the disruption. You can enjoy your home and not feel like you are living in chaos!
You can sum it up by saying that, although underpinning might seem daunting at first, if you are armed with information and have professional help on your side you’ll be able get through just as Jane did.
If you see cracks, or if the floors are uneven, don’t panic. Give those professionals a ring as soon as possible and remember what we talked about over coffee today.
Melbourne is the city that has everything you need to become a master artist. Even homes receive royal makeovers in this beautiful city!