What is Underpinning a House Foundation?

Hey,

Underpinning is not a concept that everyone can be well aware of, especially if you are not into the infrastructure and architecture field. I am an architect by profession so I know quite well about it. So, let me help you understand all about the underpinning foundation. 

What is underpinning a house foundation?

An existing building's foundation is strengthened through underpinning. Whenever the original base is no longer capable of supporting the house, it is necessary. This typically happens when the soil structure changes, whether as a result of the soil's nature or an outside influence. Underpinning is the procedure of bolstering or sustaining a home's, a building's, or other comparable structure's foundation. This is done by either expanding the base so that the weight is dispersed over a larger surface area, reinforcing the current foundation, or fortifying the soil by adding an expanding filler.

When is Underpinning building foundations needed?

• When the existing foundation is inadequate to support the structure, most homeowners must underpin their homes. This typically happens when: The soil underlying the foundation has shifted in some way, such as through subsidence, expansion or contraction due to moisture, surrounding huge trees, or broken plumbing that hasn't been fixed.

• The foundation was not designed with sufficient consideration for the characteristics of the soil, so it is insufficient under the circumstances.

• Underpinning is also necessary in less frequent situations for the reasons listed:

• The structure's usage has changed, for example, as a result of a significant refurbishment.

• Excavation of earth supporting existing foundations caused by adjoining new building

• to strengthen the strength of the building's current foundations so they can hold an additional level

• Natural catastrophes that have prompted the construction to move or become unstable, such as earthquakes, floods, or droughts.

Purpose of Underpinning foundations for extension

Underpinning is done for the following purposes:

• When the adjacent structure is built with a deep foundation, to guide an old foundation system to a deeper depth.

• Building a floor in an existing structure requires underpinning.

• Underpinning is done to strengthen the existing foundation, which is now resting on poor soil strata, and move it to a deeper, higher-bearing soil stratum.

• To reinforce a foundation that may have settled due to wall fissures. 

I hope now you understand about underpinning foundation.