You may need to install underpinning if there’s not enough space above the ground when walking into your basement. Underpinning involves the extension of an existing foundation in a vertical direction to allow you to add 100% living space below-grade. A finished basement can increase the value of your home, especially when it comes time to sell. Underpinning your basement is an excellent investment.

Benefits to Underpinning

Underpinning is a construction method that can be beneficial to your foundation. What factors are taken into consideration? Two answers are possible. The answer is twofold: either it is necessary to correct structural problems or desirable to fulfill a wish list for living space and financial requirements. We will examine each of these scenarios individually.

When the house is no longer able to be supported safely by the original foundation, it becomes necessary to install foundation wall underpinning. In certain cases, original support constructions were inadequate due to local climate conditions, soil type or other factors. In some cases, the foundation or portions of it were built on land which was not suitable for supporting the building. Other times, damage was done by untrained workers, amateurs and do-it yourselfers. The first signs of foundation damage include changes to the walls’ shape, bulging, sagging and sinking. Other warnings are structural cracks and differences between the placement of doors and windows. Underpinning is necessary in every case. A professional design and assessment are needed, and work needs to be carried out quickly before any further damage can happen. The home is stabilized and strengthened by underpinning walls of the foundation in these instances. The value of your house is increased.

Underpinning Solutions

This is done to shift the loads from the existing foundation of a structure to another level deeper in the earth. The construction of this type may be necessary for several reasons. It is common for an excavation to be made within a few inches or feet of an existing foundation. As a result, the foundation’s bottom will usually be below the excavation. In order to prevent further damage to the structure, the foundation can be raised to a height below the level of the new excavation.

A second use of underpinnings is to minimize settlement. Construction underpinning can transfer foundation loads to more capable soil strata. It is possible to use the same technique of load transfer to increase the load on an existing structure if the current foundations are not able to support the additional weight.

Schnabel, one of the nation’s most experienced underpinning contractors, has decades of expertise in designing and building hand-dug pilings, brackets piles and micro piles as well as other underpinning systems. Schnabel’s underpinning techniques have also included jet grouting, soil mixing, and other methods.

Schnabel’s Design-Build approach to underpinning involves regular monitoring, as well as close communication with our engineers and staff on the ground. It allows us to maintain the movement of very sensitive structures within acceptable boundaries.

Schnabel, a leading earth-retention contractor can help you reach your project goals. Call our office now to find out more about earth-retention construction.

Schnabel, one of the nation’s most experienced underpinning contractors with decades of expertise, has designed and constructed hand-dug pilings, brackets piles micro piles as well as other underpinning systems. Schnabel’s underpinning techniques have also included jet grouting, soil mixing and other methods.