If you’re thinking of buying insurance for an underpinned house you may find it difficult & expensive. You may even be advised by well-meaning friends not to have your existing house subsidised, for much the same reasons. The second case flies in the face of reason...
The world is changing faster each year, and the construction industry is no exception. 2019’s top construction trends may not affect you directly this year, but it’s almost certain that they’ll all soon be commonplace. So what do we all need to prepare for? Construction Trends 1....
The walls of your home do two vital jobs — they support the structure, and they keep out the weather. If they become worn or cracked, their ability to do both jobs is compromised and they need to be repaired this will be a masonry...
On the 23rd November, we attended the ASUC Awards 2018, at One Moorgate Place in London. The guest speaker for the Awards was Paul Sinha – best known from ITV’s popular quiz show ‘The Chase’ – who lived up to his promise to be an...
There are many excellent reasons for adding a basement to your home, from creating an independent flat to having an indoor swimming pool. It’s a major job, though, and one of the most important aspects is ensuring the foundations of your house remain strong. This...
In spite of being a highly specialist field, you’ll face a wide choice if you’re looking for a piling contractor. How do you tell which will offer the most effective and professional job? At U&M, we’re confident that we can compete with anyone for expertise and...
Of the two main methods of inserting piles to support foundations, driving is the preferred method across most of Europe. In the UK, though, there’s a stubborn loyalty to the more traditional technique of boring, also known as drilling or driven piling While bored piles certainly...
If your property is showing signs of structural damage, the worst thing you can do is leave it alone. Furthermore, hope everything will be all right. If you're a landlord renting out a property, you have a legal obligation to ensure that it's structurally safe...
In recent decades, piling has become the method of choice for the majority of underpinning needs. Compared with other methods, it's quicker, less disruptive, requires less concrete and spoil disposal and is therefore much friendlier on the environment. It can also provide ‘stronger’ underpinning in...
Underpinning existing foundations on a building is a major operation, and the way it's carried out can have a crucial effect on the building's future. There are many pitfalls to the process — though fortunately most can be avoided by using expert professionals. Here are...