How Much Does Underpinning Cost
Excavation
Traditional underpinning often requires significant excavation work and can take several weeks to finish. For smaller jobs, you might not face high expenses, but concrete underpinning projects can easily exceed $15,000.
Are you constructing a new building or experiencing foundation issues with an existing one? Hiring an underpinning professional can help resolve a variety of stability and structural challenges, ensuring your building remains secure. Here’s what you need to know about hiring an underpinning specialist and how much their services may cost in 2023.
What is Underpinning?
Underpinning is a construction process used to strengthen or stabilize a building’s foundation. This technique is typically applied when an existing foundation is determined to be inadequate or unstable, which can lead to problems like cracks in the walls, uneven floors, or malfunctioning doors and windows. Underpinning helps fix these issues and prevents further structural damage.
In Australia, where soil conditions can vary widely, underpinning is crucial to maintaining building stability. Areas with expansive clay soils—such as regions in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane—are especially prone to foundation issues due to soil movement. In such cases, underpinning is necessary to redistribute the building’s weight and prevent further subsidence.
The process typically involves digging beneath the current foundation and reinforcing it with stronger materials, like concrete or steel, to enhance its load-bearing capacity. This also mitigates the impact of soil movement on the building’s stability.
The cost of underpinning in Australia can vary based on factors like the project’s scale, site accessibility, and the chosen underpinning method. While underpinning can be a major investment, the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial costs, especially when considering the potential risks of neglecting foundation problems.
To get an accurate cost estimate for your project, consult a qualified structural engineer and an experienced underpinning professional. They will thoroughly assess your property and foundation before providing a detailed quote.
Factors Affecting Underpinning Costs
Several elements can influence the total cost of underpinning a home or commercial building:
- Extent of Damage: The degree of foundation damage directly impacts the overall cost. More extensive damage requires more materials and labor, leading to higher expenses.
- Cause of the Problem: Different causes of foundation issues require varying techniques and equipment, which can affect the total price.
- Underpinning Method: Various underpinning techniques, such as mass concrete, screw piers, or chemical methods, come with different costs based on materials and equipment used.
- Site Accessibility: If accessing the foundation is challenging, it can extend the project timeline and increase the cost.
- Professional Expertise: You may need to hire specialized professionals, such as geotechnical engineers, which will add to the overall cost.
- Location: The soil type and geographical location of your property can influence the underpinning method used and the price.
- Size of the Structure: Larger properties or buildings with extensive damage may require more materials and labor, which will increase costs.
How Much Does Underpinning Cost?
To determine the cost of underpinning, you first need to assess the extent of the problem and the required repairs. Since most homeowners are not experts in this field, it’s essential to rely on professionals for an accurate evaluation.
You have two main options for getting an estimate:
- Underpinning specialists: Professionals who specialize in underpinning can provide quotes based on their expertise.
- Structural engineers: For a more detailed inspection, a structural engineer can assess your foundation and provide a comprehensive report.
Keep in mind that a structural engineer’s report can cost upwards of $800 and may involve additional fees for soil testing by a geotechnical engineer. Although you might be tempted to go directly to underpinning professionals for a quote, an independent structural engineer can offer an unbiased assessment since they don’t stand to gain financially from the repairs.
Once you have the engineer’s report, you’ll be better positioned to obtain accurate quotes from underpinning specialists. Traditionally, concrete underpinning has been the go-to method, involving excavation work that can take weeks to complete. If your foundation issue is minor, it may be more affordable, but larger projects can easily cost over $15,000. The final price will depend on various factors like your location, soil type, type of footings, and site accessibility.
Fortunately, concrete isn’t the only option for underpinning anymore. Newer methods, such as resin injections, involve boring small holes around the affected area and injecting a resin that expands and binds the soil, providing a solid foundation without extensive excavation.
To determine the best solution for your property, consult a structural or geotechnical engineer and get quotes for both concrete and resin underpinning.
Does Insurance Cover Underpinning?
Underpinning in Melbourne can be a costly project, and unfortunately, most home insurance policies in Australia don’t cover the expense. This is because underpinning is often seen as a preventive measure rather than a repair service. However, it’s still worth checking with your insurance provider to confirm if your policy includes any coverage for foundation issues.