Underpinning
As underpinning specialists, Falcon offers a wide range of effective and economic solutions to all types of subsidence problems. We provide a range of underpinning and foundation repair systems including Mass Concrete, Beam and Base and Mini-piled underpinning.
Mass Concrete
The traditional mass concrete method of underpinning is an established technique, suitable for relatively shallow depths of underpinning in dry stable ground conditions. Bases are excavated and constructed in a planned ‘hit and miss’ sequence, ensuring that the structural integrity of the building above is safely maintained.
Left: Commencement of mass concrete underpinning to flank wall of house
Right: Construction of new pin adjacent to previously cast and dry packed concrete pin
Underpinning to a flank wall to enable the construction of a Reinforced Concrete Basement
Beam and Base
Beam dry packed to underside of footing
The beam and base method of underpinning is a more technically advanced adaptation of traditional mass concrete underpinning.
A reinforced concrete beam is constructed below, above or in replacement of the existing footing. The beam then transfers the load of the building to mass concrete bases, which are constructed at designed strategic locations.
Base sizes and depths are dependent upon the prevailing ground conditions. Beam design is dependent upon the configuration of the building and the applied loads.
Anti-Heave precautions are often incorporated in schemes where potential expansion of clay soils may occur.
Left: New R.C. beam supported on mass concrete base
Right: Beam and Base construction of beam under existing wall
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