Having to underpin your property is often considered to be every homeowner’s worst nightmare, but it doesn’t have to mean long, drawn-out construction work or moving out of your own house whilst work is underway. Instead of relying on older, traditional methods of underpinning, that are often more disruptive to everyday life, there’s a no-mess, no-fuss solution to your problem – geopolymer resin injection technology.
But before you choose a method that’s right for you, you must first understand exactly what underpinning is, when it’s necessary to have the work carried out and why the geopolymer resin injection method is favoured above more conventional ways of underpinning.
What is underpinning?
Underpinning is essentially a way of strengthening the foundations of a property or another structure. Typically, it requires the foundation depth to be extended or it could mean distributing the load across a larger, greater area for the method to be as effective as possible.
Classed as a major repair project in the construction industry, it’s important that you know the extent of the problem and why it’s happened before choosing a suitable method in order to underpin the property effectively as the solution should last for many years to come.
When would underpinning be necessary?
Underpinning is required when the original structure has moved. This happens when the clay soils beneath the original foundations have experienced shrinkage due to dry weather or granular soils have been washed away. You will likely notice cracks in the walls or misalignment of doors and windows jamming. It is important to have the situation assessed by an expert. Underpinning would only really be necessary if:
- Most commonly – there’s a change in soil conditions located under the foundations
- The soil characteristics have not been taken into account during the design phase or initial building of the foundation itself
- The original foundation is not strong enough
- There has been a construction, repair or excavation of neighbouring buildings or structures
- Additional floors or rooms need to be constructed underground
What are some of the traditional underpinning methods?
There are a number of more conventional ways of underpinning a house or building, although they’re often more messy and disruptive than the resin injection way of underpinning your home.
There are also some methods that aren’t suitable for sensitive foundations due to high levels of soil disturbance, hence why it’s important that homeowners understand exactly what each method entails before making a decision and going ahead with the work. Although, the company you go through should be able to advise either for or against a particular method based on a rigorous inspection.
Mass concrete underpinning
This involves replacing the soil under the foundations by digging it out and then pouring concrete in. The soil is then effectively replaced in box-shaped parts in a sequence that has been predetermined, in turn, this will ensure that the bearing capacity of the foundation itself is not compromised.
Essentially, the foundation is built underneath the existing one and so this method can be used for underpinning houses or other structures that sit on shallow foundations. However, the structure itself must be sufficiently strong enough to span over the underpinning pits (the box-shaped parts).
Piled underpinning
This method is most commonly used when firm soil layers are lying at a substantial depth, making the superficial soil inadequate or too weak to bear the heavy loads that are applied to it. The piles themselves are steel-cased and are often filled with concrete. Depending on the installation technique, they’re divided into three categories:
- Driven piles
- Drilled piles
- Jacked piles
This particular method requires loads to be transferred from the existing foundations to the piles themselves, all done using load transfer structures.
Jet grouting
Jet grouting involves creating a geometry of grouted soil, all carried out by using a jet of cement grout, either with or without air, of a high-velocity. When used for underpinning, it creates grouted soil columns underneath the original, or existing, foundations in order to strengthen it.
Although jet grouting is effective across a wide range of soil types when it comes to underpinning, it’s not suitable for sensitive foundations due to the high level of soil disturbance that occurs. Heavy equipment will also be needed onsite in order to carry out this particular method of underpinning.
Geobear offer an innovative, non-disruptive, geopolymer solution
This specific underpinning method from Geobear is highly-reliable and guaranteed to last for many years to come. Geopolymers can not only be used to underpin houses and other buildings, but they can also be used to stabilise floors and surfaces, re-levelling floors, compacting granular soils or to increase the bearing capacity of the soil that makes up the foundation of existing structures.
The resin injection technique, instead of focusing on pressurised, heavy hydraulic systems, they’re based on chemical expansion pressure instead. This makes the overall application safer and considerably easier to control. The resin will cure very quickly, it’s a strong, permanent solution to your foundation problem.
Most geopolymer injection projects can be completed within a day or two and it won’t impact your everyday life either. As a non-disruptive, clean and tidy method of underpinning, it’s no wonder that homeowners are looking to the resin injection technique as opposed to more conventional ways of underpinning.
Why is this solution more favourable than more conventional methods of underpinning?
There are many benefits to choosing Geobear to underpin your home with the resin injection method, making it more favourable than the traditional techniques associated with underpinning. Some of those benefits include:
- There’s no reason for you to leave your home whilst work is underway
- Digging and excavations aren’t necessary when choosing the resin injection method
- The process is quicker and easier in comparison to more traditional underpinning techniques
- Geobear have many years of experience in the industry, so you’ll always be in good hands when choosing the resin injection technique
Geobear are always on hand to help
Geobear have over 35 years of experience working in the UK, underpinning over 10,000 homes in that time. Their solution is exceptionally eco-friendly, as their carbon footprint is relatively low when compared to other techniques.
With all the necessary industry accreditations, Geobear can always be counted upon to deliver exceptional, permanent results with the geopolymer resin injection method. They’re dedicated to keeping up to date with technology news, allowing Geobear to be at the forefront of geopolymer resin injection technology.
For more information about how Geobear can underpin your home, get in touch with a member of their expert team today – they’re always on hand to offer advice and guidance when you need it most.