Piling is a standard construction technique that can be used for everything from major projects, like bridges or oil rigs, to home extensions. Lately, however, it's become increasingly popular as a means of underpinning unreliable foundations. Whenever you're undertaking any construction project, it's vital to ensure...
In recent months, we've been talking about retrofitting your basement. We've explained what a retrofit basement is and how to tell whether your property is suitable — but is it the right decision to make? How do the costs of a retrofit basement compare with...
A building might suffer from minor defects that can be easily rectified, but some issues are serious enough to threaten the structure's integrity and safety. These are generally referred to as serious structural defects. They may be caused by poor-quality materials or workmanship, but environmental...
In March, we posted part one of our essential 3-step guide to retrofitting your basement, explaining what a retrofit basement is, why you might need it, and what the essential steps are. In part two, we will look at the different conditions which may make retrofitting...
When you put a property on the market, any past underpinning work is one of the things you're legally obliged to declare. While this could, in some circumstances, have a negative effect, the picture is much more complex. It could even possibly make your home...
Many people nowadays want a basement added to their home, to provide extra space without expanding the building's footprint. One of the ways of achieving this is to retrofit an existing cellar as a basement, and over the next few months, we'll be offering a...
A well-constructed building should have masonry that does its job of supporting the structure. Eventually, however, it may become less efficient at this, either because of extra stress put on it or just because of the effects of time. In such a case, the masonry may...
Whatever type of building you have, it's safe to assume that it involves concrete somewhere. Maybe concrete blocks form the main structure, or maybe concrete has been used for the foundations, the roof or for details of the building. Like any construction material, concrete needs maintenance...
London is just one of many parts of the country that's seen flooding recently, and there's likely to be more. After all, with weather events becoming more extreme and sea levels rising, lower-lying areas like London are going to be more at risk. Besides the effects...
If you find cracks in your home's foundations, it's essential to get them fixed. However, they're not all disastrous. This brief guide will give you an idea of which cracks can be repaired when it's convenient — and which need urgent action. 1. Horizontal Cracks Horizontal cracks...