Have you seen the beautiful historic houses in Melbourne? These homes are beautiful, rich in history, and sometimes sway look at this. In this case, the underpinnings are important. Consider it as buying a new pair of good shoes for your house. Why would you need to do this?
Imagine this: you discover a crack in the wall while enjoying your morning coffee. Yesterday, the crack was not there. Panic starts. Are you in panic mode? Let your hair down, buddy! It’s possible that your home’s foundation is moving like sand at the beach.
Melbourne’s high clay concentration is well-known. This material expands and settles with water, making foundations wobble like they’re on a trampoline. If your foundation is not stable, then nothing above it will be.
Then, what is the solution? Below is the solution! Imagine receiving chiropractic care in your home. Experts excavate under existing foundations to add reinforcement and stabilize the above-ground structure.
Let’s not get too technical. Just look at the basic components.
First, engineers evaluate the situation. They will poke around to determine which kind of support is best and how much they need. It’s important to be precise; you can’t just slap on concrete.
The next step is to dig strategically placed holes under foundation spots that need extra care. Imagine you were going to plant trees but instead of saplings, the concrete blocks or piers were used.
You can then reinforce your house by pouring concrete or adding screw piles to make it stand on stilts. This phase is crucial because it allows weight to be distributed more evenly over the stable ground layers beneath.
The whole thing is now set and solidified! Your home will be able to stand strong once the annoying cracks that appear when it rains, or the sun shines too brightly are gone.
But hold on! There are different foundation jobs. The type of soil is important (see clay again! Some buildings require more work than others depending on the type of soil (see, clay again!
My friend Tom’s 1920s home was underpinned last year after he noticed cracks bigger than his thumb. He was relieved to learn that many companies offer financing options.
It may be expensive in the short term, but think about the long-term. Solid foundations will save you future heartache and headaches. They also add substantial value to your property. Who wants to see their dream house collapse into a nightmare, or worse?
Do-it-yourselfers who think they can handle this themselves shouldn’t even consider it. One mistake could lead to a disaster greater than Ben Hur. Leave underpinnings to the experts!
Have you heard your friends tell horror stories about cowboy builders who botch projects? Make sure the person in charge of your foundation is a reputable and experienced professional. Do not rely on eye-catching ads that promise gold at a bargain!
Lastly… All in good fun–didn’t we say that there were conclusions? In conclusion, I would like to recommend that you be on the lookout for any early warning signs such as sudden door closures or cracks. They could tell you something important before things get very bad underground.
Remind people that strong foundations and happy homeowners are the key to happy homes.