I rent a house with a few problems – it’s foundations on the back 1/2 are sinking. Neighbour told us there was a swamp and when the house was built the foundations were insufficient. There are now cracks/gaps in brick walls up to 25mm and superficial cracks in cement rendering throughout the house. Seems the whole concrete slab is sinking – the house seems very solid and I have no concerns – what I am searching for is the right contacts to discuss rectifying this problem. The house was listed for sale and previous offers failed guess due to structural/building reports. This would mean a major reduction in selling price if it came to a sale – if one would only know how to arrest the movement.
Has anyone come across a similar problem? This is nowhere as drastic as the subsiding tunnel in Lane Cove in the last days – is it possible to pump concrete underneath foundations to provide sufficient ‘base’ to then pressurise a liner/layer in-between to raise house foundations?
thanks for reading – look forward to your replies
cheers
HardyHardy,
What state are you in?
PudYou may be able to stop the movement it depends on the type of soil, the existing slab, drainage etc. I’d engage the services of a structural engineer to take a look. The property may need underpinning. If you’re thinking of buying it I wouldn’t be paying much more than land value.
AJBS
My experience of this is pretty minimal, but…..
I do know underpinning can be a very expensive exercise, especially if a whole slab is tilting. And if the sub soil has problems, as an ex swamp would.
Underpinning will stop further sinking, but raising the house to where it was would be really tough – particularly with a slab construction.
I have seen houses with brick foundations sinking that have been jacked up places after underpinning has stabilised things. This naturally requires good access under the property.
Failing that, further sinking is prevented and then gaps etc filled. But 25mm gaps are pretty big.
ScottTax Depreciation Schedules
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Cheers
FostonLife is a series of new beginnings
They’ve got an agent in Northbridge, Sydney. Give him a call Draheim and let us know what he says.
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