Magnum Push Piers
Steel push piers down to deep bearing ground, each tested.
Drought and shrinking clay
Clay shrinks as it dries and swells when it gets wet again. In a normal year the seasons affect the ground to about 1.5 m deep. Houses with foundations at 60 to 80 cm sit in the zone that moves. The highest risk is in the old, highly plastic clays such as Boom Clay and Ypres Clay.
A leaking sewer or rainwater drain
A leak wets the ground locally and can wash soil away. Have the drains checked by camera before repairing: otherwise the problem comes back.
Trees close to the house
On a hot day a large tree draws up to about 500 litres of water from the ground, on clay up to 1 to 1.5 times its height away and down to 5 m deep. Buildwise recommends a distance of at least 1 times the tree height.
Construction work nearby
Excavation, dewatering or pile driving next to your home can make the ground under your foundation move. Have the condition of your home recorded before nearby works start.
Soft or poorly compacted ground
Peat, made ground or poorly compacted soil can keep settling under load. With floors it shows as voids and slabs out of level.
With serious damage, have a structural engineer assess the situation. Soiltek is a specialist contractor: we record, measure, propose a technique and carry out the repair, in consultation with your engineer.