Browse Forums Renovation + Home Improvement 1 Aug 08, 2015 6:26 pm Anyone know from experience or otherwise how long you should wait after underpinning to renovate/extend? This question is specific to a brick veneer on concrete strip footings. I'll contact the mob who'll be doing the job and ask on Monday but just curious for now... Re: How long to wait after underpinning? 2Aug 23, 2015 7:20 pm Hi Purrfection I am assuming your footings are inadequate for the proposed extensions? Generally I would allow 3-4 weeks for masonry or concrete for full loading please post back if you require further specific info, details,engineering,data & costs Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: How long to wait after underpinning? 3Aug 23, 2015 7:49 pm Hi there. Thanks for responding. To make a short story long, the footings are inadequate for the house they currently support! Actually, I've been told they have collapsed in certain areas due to crappy soil conditions (clay) and cycles of drought and excessive water retention on the block because of cracked sewer and storm water pipes, overflowing gutters, etc. There are cracked bricks mostly all around and chunks of mortar that have fallen out here and there, not to mention the internal damage. Upon the advice of a couple of structural engineers I had some large trees adjacent to the house removed about 10 months ago and the external structure has settled quite significantly since then. I have also just had all the earthenware pipes replaced with PVC so expect to see further closure of the brickwork in the next 6 months. It's at this time the underpinner will be willing to go ahead with his work and I wondered if there was some sort of "curing" time for that. The waiting game is a killer so I'm just trying to plan ahead. Cheers. Re: How long to wait after underpinning? 4Aug 23, 2015 8:05 pm I wouldn't recommend undertaking the repairs until 1. The soils, movement and building has stabilized 2. The weather is conducive for repairs as you will be exposing lower soil levels 3. Also get proper engineering drawings/details for the repairs and make sure they are carried out as specified by someone who is qualified... Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: How long to wait after underpinning? 5Aug 23, 2015 8:25 pm With your point 3. are you referring to the underpinning, or something else that I'm not aware of? Re: How long to wait after underpinning? 6Aug 24, 2015 7:21 pm BTW your initial comments that the footings were inadequate for the house that it supports? So how do you know the structural repairs will be adequate/compliant are they to be certified by the Structural Engineer? Just curious! Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: How long to wait after underpinning? 7Aug 24, 2015 8:32 pm It was more of a throwaway line than fact. The house isn't going to fall down any time soon (so I was told.) Didn't mean it to be taken literally. I intend to engage a specific company to do the underpinning. Twice their rep has been out, once last year before the trees were removed and once about a month ago. Both times he politely refused to take on the work unless the site drainage issue was addressed, but I've sat on it until now because we were also considering a KDR. I am not technically minded in this area but was advised the new pins/footings would have to be designed by an engineer once the time comes to actually do the job. The company outsources this service. Is this what you mean? Re: How long to wait after underpinning? 8Aug 24, 2015 9:18 pm purrfection I am not technically minded in this area but was advised the new pins/footings would have to be designed by an engineer once the time comes to actually do the job. The company outsources this service. Is this what you mean? You are not alone as most people aren't technically minded and rely on others. I suggest that the next time you speak to any rep/company ask that they Simplify/Explain in detail the correct Engineering and Work to be undertaken for the repairs before you give them any deposit. Why? As an engineer that specializes in structural repairs ,often I get called out to do repairs on the repairs (LOL, I kid you not), and i am told by these clients the engineering was left to last or non existent? Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: How long to wait after underpinning? 10Aug 24, 2015 9:37 pm I don't have any doubt you have to fix others' ****-ups. There are plenty of unscrupulous people in the building industry out there who give the good ones a bad name. Thanks for the heads-up on what to look out for. I'm sure I will wrack your brain in the near future. --- Watch out! I'm verbose. Re: How long to wait after underpinning? 11Aug 25, 2015 8:05 am I forgot to mention the underlining reason why I see so many problems is that there are no Codes (Australian Standards) for underpinning (that I know of) and the solution varies considerably though the prices for the repairs don't vary they are always high...yes I agree easy money for some and they damage the industry for others. Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs 1 13124 Congratulations! 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