Your house is one of the most cherished possessions. It ensures the safety of your loved ones. If the base of your house is weak, it can weaken your life. So, it is crucial to fix and maintain the condition of your home’s foundation.
In case you have noticed several cracks in your home, there are chances of a serious problem with the foundation. In such a circumstance, underpinning might be required to restore its strength.
What is Underpinning?
Underpinning is an engineering method of restoring the strength of the foundation. It includes excavating sections of the existing base and pouring concrete blocks under each segment. The outcome is a new and stronger foundation for the existing structure.
You can begin underpinning for your property for any of the following reasons:
- The initial foundation is weak
- Land subsidence has occurred under the base.
- You want to put up additional floors which the current foundation will not be able to support
- You wish to increase the height of the basement
What Factors must be thought about before Underpinning?
Underpinning is a complex procedure that needs the knowledge and expertise of a professional. Thus, it is important that you contact certified underpinning contractors like http://cdanielsfoundations.com.au/. Additionally, you will need to consider the following factors:
The Price
As underpinning is pricey, homeowners contemplate it as a last resort for fixing the base. It is expensive because of the danger involved. If you are thinking about underpinning your base, get a clear idea of how much it is going to cost you.
The Insurance
Home insurance companies require that you present thorough advice of any home renovation project which you tackle. When you start a project like underpinning, the home insurance provider will change your policy to “house under renovation” status.
If you get started underpinning without notifying your home insurance policy provider, the insurance coverage might be considered void. Without insurance, you will not have coverage in the event of damages throughout the procedure.
The Building Permit
If your builder does not obtain the building permit required for underpinning, you can face severe financial and legal consequences such as the “work without license” penalty. You will have no choice but to delay underpinning until you get the license for it. You may also have to undo the work that your contractors have already done which means misusing even more of your time and money.
Starting underpinning with no license can even impact the selling price of your home. Thus, it is important that you remind the contractor of getting building permits. Remember that any house renovation project causes aggravation if mishandled and underpinning is not any different. Thus, it is crucial that you remain cautious throughout the process and make sure that you have all the bases covered.
Learn more about underpinning costs in Melbourne and other pertinent information. The more you know about the matter, the fewer problems you will likely encounter in the future.