• Commercial and Industrial

• Sewer Screwpiles

• Boardwalks and Platforms

• Underpinning

• Tapered Steel Light Pole Foundations

• Shoring and Soil Retention System

• Mining Camp -Dongas

• Pipelines & Conveyors

• Large Towers and Satellite Dish Structures

• Soil Stabilisation

• Bridges - Underpasses - Overpasses

• Retaining Wall - Surcharge

• Moorings & Marine

• Marquee's and Tent Structures

• Solar Farms - Wind Farms

• Underpinning Detail Domestic

  Underpinning Detail for Single Story Domestic Housing

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  • PDF
• Underpinning Detail Domestic

  Underpinning Detail for Double Story Domestic Housing

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  • PDF

Applications

Underpinning

Underpinning of buildings is common practice.  Buildings settle due to all sorts of reasons.  Investigation usually arrives at one of the following to be the cause of building settlement and subsequent foundation distress or failure:

• Nearby excavations and/or incorrect excavation or recompaction procedures
• Adjoining property construction such as dewatering or vibration from hammer piling etc
• Changes to the ground environment such as moisture content, changes to water table and/or horizontal ground water movement
• Limestone caverns underground
• Poor construction design or methods in the first instance

Underpinning is considered remedial work, requiring the stabilisation or reinstatement of existing foundations and footings.  This is done using such techniques as piling, microfine cement grout injection or mass concrete pads.  The recommended process in determining the extent of, and how to best rectify the problem is stated below:

• As soon as you think there is a problem, you should begin to monitor the extent of the movement wherever possible.  This can be done by identifying any horizontal or vertical cracks to masonary and frames.  Silicone a piece for glass or plastic to each side of the crack, ensuring the pieces have a slight gap (say 2mm and record it) between them in case of any sliding movement.  Make an even felt pen or scratch mark between the two pieces. Over regular intervals, say each month,  monitor, measure and record the distance of movement between the line horizontally and vertically. This is important information that will assist our engineers in assessing the extent of the problem and the best solution.  It will also save you valuable time and money as it will not be necessary for our engineers to do this. 
• Once you have confirmed there is a problem, make contact with our engineers so that a file can be built regarding your problem, as the earlier we become involved, the better the likely outcome for you financially.  We do not charge for our initial consultation and monitoring of your problem. You only pay when you engage us to do the work.  Please note engagement also includes any written report required for insurance or legal purposes so please clarify this with our staff.
• At some point before quotation you will need to engage an engineer to formally evaluate the problem. Our own inhouse engineers can inspect, monitor and report on the extent of the problem and the recommended best solution to fix your problem. You will need this for any insurance or legal claim.  We have over 20 years of experience in this field. If you would prefer to use an independent consulting engineer, the following have significant experience in building settlement in Western Australia:
  • Reed Engineers
  • Lalli & Associates
  • Structerre
  • Andreotta Cardenosa
  • E-Tec  
• Once you have a professional engineering report, you can then decide on whether or not the problem requires immediate attention or to leave it and see what happens over time.  Your report will contain certain recommendations which you should observe. In severe cases immedate attention may be required due to safety issues, in others, further monitoring may be recommended.

There are two main methods of stabilisation; piling and microfine cement grout injection.  Both work well and are very efficient.  The use of one or the other will depend on may factors such as water table height, soil type, required depth of stabilisation, machinery needed and type of access and environmental restitution work.  Our engineers will take all of this into consideration when recommending the best solution. Our company, Screwpile Australia specialises in screwpiles and augured pile solutions, whilst our company Fondex specialises in microfine cement grout injection processes.

There are as many causes as there are way to fix the problem. Our engineers will provide you with what they consider the best solution. Email us for further advice.