5 Signs That Your Home Needs Underpinning

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Building a New Home

If you plan to build a new home, you will no doubt have lots of questions about how best to proceed. I am here to help you to understand the different things you need to consider when planning and constructing a new property. I don't work in the construction industry but last year, I successfully built a new property using a team of construction contractors. The contractors were real professionals who worked quickly and to a very high standard. They were very kind to me and took the time to explain exactly what they were doing at each stage of the construction job.

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5 Signs That Your Home Needs Underpinning

19 August 2020
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog


If your foundation is damaged, your home may be in danger of collapsing or sinking. Luckily, it doesn't have to get that bad. There are a few signs that your house's foundation needs attention. Due to the shallow foundations that older homes are built on, they're particularly at risk of collapse. However, even new homes may also be at risk. Here are 5 signs that your home needs underpinning. 

Cracks in Your Walls These are the most common signs that your home needs underpinning. You'll start to see small cracks appearing on your wall. While they won't be massive in the beginning, as the problem continues to worsen, so will the size of the crack. Most of the time, you'll see the cracks in your home's interior. However, don't rule out inspecting the exterior. Some cracks may appear on the exterior walls of your home. If you see a crack in any of your walls, call your contractor to inspect your home and undertake an underpinning. 

Stuck Windows and Doors Have you tried to open any of your windows and doors, and couldn't because they were stuck? It's possible that the door and window frames are not aligned properly. This could be a sign that your home needs underpinning. If your window or door routinely sticks, and you haven't experienced such an issue in the past, then call a construction contractor to inspect the door and the house. If many doors and windows are getting stuck, the problem may be more severe than you think. 

Your House Is Leaning Towards One Side Your home should be completely level. If you notice that your home is visibly leaning towards one side, there's a chance that something is very wrong with your foundation. Your contractor will most likely suggest that you start an underpinning project. 

Skirting Boards Are Separate From the Wall If your home's skirting starts to separate from the wall, creating visible gaps, then something is definitely wrong. The chances are that your home is suffering from some movement issues that require the attention of a contractor. Most likely, your home is suffering from subsidence and requires underpinning. 

Puddles Around Your Home If you notice some puddles forming around the perimeter of your home, you may be tempted to ignore it. It shows that there's a problem with your home's drainage. The pooling water can soften your soil and destabilise the ground beneath the house, messing with the foundation. If you have had puddles around your home for a long time, consider consulting your contractor to inspect your home and eliminate the risk of a damaged foundation.

If you notice any of these signs, don't waste any time. Call a contraction contractor and schedule a house underpinning before the problem worsens.