Chelmsford
Many property owners in Chelmsford, Colchester and beyond have considered the benefits of undergoing basement conversions. They’re one of the best ways to add living or working space without changing the footprint of your property, but they rely on expertly completed underpinning services to ensure the proper structural support. If not, you risk encountering a range of issues, which is why it's crucial to hire experienced groundwork contractors for all foundation installations. This is particularly true for restricted access piling and other high-stakes structural work.
Here, we discuss why underpinning is a crucial element of installing or converting a basement and why you should always hire a professional to complete the work. To learn what other services we offer, please don’t hesitate to contact our team or visit our dedicated service pages.
The first step in any basement conversion is site enabling works. This is where everything gets set up: clearing the site, installing temporary structures, and ensuring it's safe to work. Before any digging can happen for your new basement, the existing foundations need a good look-over and, usually, some reinforcement. This is where underpinning services become essential.
The specific type of underpinning you'll need depends on factors such as the soil type, the strength of your current foundation installations, and the depth of the planned excavation. In many built-up spots, like parts of Chelmsford, you can't just dig a big hole because of limited space or nearby buildings. That's when specialised methods like restricted access piling come in handy – mini-piling rigs can work in tight spaces, keeping disruption to neighbours to a minimum.
There are a few ways to approach underpinning. One common method is traditional underpinning, where small sections of the existing foundation are excavated and concrete is poured in stages. It can be cost-effective, but it takes time. For tougher ground or when deep foundations are required, bored piling is a strong alternative. This involves drilling holes into the ground and filling them with reinforced concrete, basically creating new, deeper support columns for your building.
No matter the method, the primary objective of underpinning services is to redistribute the building's weight to a more stable layer of earth, ensuring the original structure remains solid both during and after the excavation.
Groundwork contractors don't just handle the underpinning itself. They're also responsible for the foundation installation for the new basement. This could mean pouring a new strip foundation or a raft slab that will form the base of your new space. It's also extremely important at this stage to get the waterproofing and drainage right to avoid future damp and water issues, which can be particularly problematic in basements.
When completing work such as basement conversions, it’s important you hire a professional. If not, you risk cracking, instability, and in extreme cases, complete collapse. Hiring our reliable groundwork contractors, who specialise in restricted access piling and offer comprehensive underpinning services, is the best way to ensure a safe and long-lasting basement installation, conversion, or rebuild.
Whether you’re based in Chelmsford, the surrounding areas, or further afield, call our team to discuss your upcoming renovation. We offer the following services:
