We loved our house from the first time we went through, but it really didn't have enough living space. We have worked on improving the layout of the home and increasing the living area of the home to create a modern and more pleasant layout to the home. We are really proud of how the job has turned out and we wanted to share some of the details of how the extension and layout changes where designed and constructed. This blog has some of the photos of our extension as well as tips that we have learnt along the journey,.
Construction & Contractors Blog
If you are in the market for a new house, you might find one that is slightly older and needs help with the foundation. This process is called underpinning, where the house is renovated in a way that provides better support for the foundation. Here are some things you should know about the underpinning process before you buy a home that needs underpinning to be done.
There Are Many Reasons Underpinning is Done
You should first understand when and why underpinning needs to be done. There are actually quite a few situations that require underpinning of a house or building. One of the most common reasons to have a house underpinned is because it is not strong or stable enough, though there are also some other reasons. For example, you might find that the structure use has changed and it therefore needs more stability, such as a detached garage now being used for something else entirely. You might need underpinning if you need the foundation to have a better load capacity or simply for economical purposes.
The Cost Varies Based on Several Factors
The next thing you might be concerned about is exactly how much house underpinning is going to cost. Since underpinning takes quite a bit of work, this isn't going to be a cheap type of renovation. However, you get back a lot more when you make your home more stable. Some things that might change the cost of underpinning are the footings of the home, the types of materials being used, and how easy it is for the contractors to access. The soil type and location might also determine how much a contractor charges for underpinning to be done.
There Isn't Just One Method
Underpinning can also vary based on the method used, which changes the overall cost and time it takes to complete the renovations. Using a beam and base method is not unusual for underpinning, which is going to use beams to support the current home's foundation with a new concrete base beneath it. Another common underpinning method is to simply add a mass concrete base underneath the home's foundation without adding the beams. The base provides more strength and support of the foundation than what the soil beneath it provides. Some contractors also like to transfer the structure's load to soils under the home's foundation.
Speak to your contractor to discuss the necessity of underpinning and exactly what is going to be involved.
Share11 August 2016
