While the roof is arguably the most critical part of a house, the foundation comes a close second for the simple reason that it holds the entire structure in place. Therefore, when your foundation begins to show signs of structural instability, it might be time to look for underpinning services. Before a foundation repair contractor decides on the best approach to repair a faulty foundation, some factors must be considered. This article highlights critical factors that contractors look at before choosing a foundation underpinning technique. 

Examine Underground Utilities

Properties are designed differently. Some structures have underground utilities such as gas pipes and plumbing buried in or around the foundation. As the foundation shifts or changes in structural form, the adverse effects can be extended to the utility lines. For instance, if there are gas pipes under and around the foundation and your floor begins to crack or shift, the piping system will be subjected to bending and potential cracking. Therefore, a service provider must examine the area under and around the foundation for any buried utilities. If there are any, then the right measures should be taken first to secure these utilities before commencing the foundation underpinning exercise. 

Age of Structure

The age of a building is another factor that underpinning contractors take very seriously when determining the appropriate repair option. The reason is that the age of a building gives a clear idea of how fragile or stable the foundation is. For example, the materials used for the foundation in very old buildings will vary significantly with materials used on modern buildings. Since the foundation of very old buildings has deteriorated considerably, the best underpinning method is likely mass concrete underpinning. On the other hand, the foundation of a modern building might not have deteriorated that much, so pile underpinning will suffice. The older a structure is, the more drastic the foundation underpinning technique needs to be. 

Soil Type

The type of soil a foundation sits on is also essential when choosing the right foundation underpinning technique. For example, bedrock or hard chalk offer the perfect stability for a foundation. However, underground movements can destabilise the underlying bedrock and affect foundation stability. This shouldn't be a problem for contractors because the rock below offers the perfect support for underpinning piles. However, the same underpinning method cannot be used on foundations for properties built on silt because silty soil does not have the support necessary to hold the underpinning piles in place.

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