Why Underpining Your Home is Important

Underpining your home can be an essential part of ensuring its structural integrity and preventing expensive foundation repairs down the road. While underpining has many benefits, it’s also important to know the right time to underpine your home and to have it done by a reputable contractor who can complete the job quickly and easily. Here are three reasons why you should consider having your home underpined and how you can tell when the time is right.

What is underpinning?
Underpinning is the process of strengthening and stabilizing the foundation of a home. This is usually done by excavating around the perimeter of the foundation and installing support beams or piers beneath it. The underpinning of a foundation is important because it helps to prevent settlement, which can cause cracks and other damage to the home. It can also help to prevent Foundation failure during an earthquake.

When is it necessary?
If your home is more than 50 years old, chances are it doesn’t have an underpinning basement. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, many homes built before the 1950s were constructed without one. However, if you live in an area with a high water table or your home has started to show signs of foundation problems, it may be time to consider underpinning your home.

How does it help?
The underpinning of a foundation helps to support the weight of the structure above it. This can be important for a number of reasons. First, if the soil underneath your home is not stable, it can shift and cause cracks in your foundation. Second, if there is water seeping into the soil, it can put pressure on your foundation and cause it to crack or even collapse. Third, if tree roots are growing under your home, they can lift up the foundation and cause damage. Fourth, underpinning can help to stabilize a hillside or sloped lot. Fifth, it can help to prevent Settling, which is when a structure sinks into the ground over time due to the weight of the structure itself.