Industry News August 2019
How advancements in ground engineering can help reduce spend Concrete Underpinning vs Resin Injection
Since the summer of 2018, the number of subsidence claims has dramatically increased, highlighting how record temperatures took their toll on UK buildings. Reports show that subsidence is affecting both residential and commercial properties, resulting in councils and landlords needing to rehome tenants while the underlying problem is fixed. With high temperatures continuing this year, it’s likely these claims will continue. However, with the latest advances in ground engineering, there are alternative solutions councils and private developers can consider to help alleviate these problems, saving money and reducing tenant disruption.
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When subsidence occurs, the first solution is often traditional concrete underpinning. However, this method is slow, labour intensive and costly. As access
is required under the original foundation of the property, occupants must vacate their premises while the excavation is being completed, increasing admin time and spend for homeowners, property managers and landlords. Advanced solutions in the ground engineering sector, such as Mainmark’s TeretekŽ engineered resin injection and JOG ComputerControlled Grouting solutions, can help mitigate these problems, offering modern alternatives to traditional underpinning.
The resin then flows into the soil and expands, compressing the surrounding soil, filling voids and strengthening the ground.
Resin injection has been used globally for over 20 years and is proven to work. The process, likened to keyhole surgery, involves injecting expanding structural resin under the existing foundations through small incisions, typically only 16mm in diameter, made in the ground from outside a building.
By eradicating the need to excavate, this process is cleaner and less disruptive than concrete underpinning. As large excavations underneath the foundation are not required, many projects are completed in hours and occupants can usually stay in the building while the work is carried out.