Should You Install An Adjustable Option To Help With Home Subsidence?
Do you live in an area where the soil beneath your home is somewhat unstable and may shift from time to time due to weather conditions and other issues? If so, you may need to worry about the stability of your house and might even need to take action from time to time to ensure that it is kept in good condition. But this can be a very worrying situation to deal with all the time, and if you eventually want to sell your home, it is not great. What kind of steps can you take to safeguard your property and make it more attractive to a potential buyer?
Issues With Foundation
When builders first constructed your home, they would have taken care with the foundations and ensured that the slab was perfectly fit for purpose. As time goes by and the soil underground starts to shift, this can compromise even the sturdiest foundation and cause issues for the property situated above.
Signs Of An Issue
You may notice small cracks on certain walls or find windows difficult to open, even though you have never had any problems before. An engineer may determine that your house is dealing with subsidence and may recommend that you look at underpinning.
How Underpinning Works
Underpinning is the process of fixing any subsidence by selectively introducing a mass of concrete or installing new stumps. These stumps can be made of brick, timber or concrete, and are designed to stabilise the property and return everything to the proper level.
These solutions are certainly viable and have worked in many properties around the country, but as you live in an area that is known for its instability, you may want to consider a different approach.
Better Material?
In this case, why not install adjustable stumps made from galvanised steel instead? For a start, the material may have the edge over the other solutions, and you may not have to deal with wood rot, termites or spalling concrete down the road. Instead, these stumps could be far more durable, but importantly, you may be able to take advantage of their adjustability.
Key Benefits
Adjustable steel stumps can be fine-tuned when installed, making the engineering process somewhat easier. Crucially, you can adjust the levels and raise or lower them individually or as a group. This is great if you run into subsidence problems in the years ahead, as you will automatically have a means of dealing with them without too much additional work.
Helping With Value
Don't forget, if you put the house on the market, you can assuage any worries that a prospective buyer may have. This may help you to get a better price.
Your Next Move
Talk with underpinning professionals who know how to install adjustable steel stumps.
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