Have you noticed a potential problem with the foundation of your home? Maybe your doors no longer shut as easily as they once did. Are there worrying cracks spreading diagonally across your walls? If you think that your home foundation could be in danger of failing, then house underpinning could be the solution that you need to strengthen your foundation and restore balance to your home. If you are considering arranging for house underpinning, then it is important to do it right. You can't afford to make mistakes with your foundation or you could risk losing your home entirely. Here are three things that you must check before starting to underpin your property.

Find a structural engineer

While you might suspect that there is a need for house underpinning, it is impossible to draw accurate conclusions without the completion of a full evaluation by a structural engineer. You might have a foundation that was badly constructed or you could be suffering from a tree root damaging the foundation. Alternatively, you might have a problem with drainage on the site that is affecting the foundation. It is only by carrying out a detailed survey that you will be able to work out what is going on and plan the appropriate remedial work.

Which house underpinning method is right?

There are a variety of techniques that could be used for underpinning depending on what has caused the foundation to start failing. Make certain that your contractor has chosen their method based on an evaluation of the prevailing soil and the condition of your property, not simply on what is best for them. Talk to the contractor to find out which method they suggest and why they think it would be best.

Do you have the right permits?

House underpinning often requires a successful permit application before work can begin. It is your responsibility to apply for all of the permits and to make sure that they are in place before the underpinning work commences. Don't make the mistake of allowing work to begin before the permit has been granted; if you do that, you could find yourself in a risky position and subject to large fines.

Speak to a house underpinning contractor to learn more about protecting your property through underpinning. They will be able to guide you through the process and help you to understand which method of house underpinning will need to be adopted in your situation.

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