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Underpinning
Underpinning and Foundations
Underpinning & Foundation Skanska, a heavy foundation specialty
contractor was founded in 1897 and was acquired by Skanska in
1973. The firm has performed as a subcontractor on an extensive
range of private and public projects for most of New Yorks most
renowned civil contractors.

Underpinning & Foundation Skanska, is one of America's foremost
deep-foundation specialists. We offer a complete range of services
from prime contracting to installation of conventional and specialized
high-capacity piling and underpinning. Our capabilities include
inspection and rehabilitation assignments; foundations for every type
of project, including full-scale marine undertakings.
As one of America's oldest and most experienced deep foundation
specialists, we build supporting structures for all types of projects on
all types of sites, from single-story buildings to high-rise structures
on rock or soft soil, from municipal infrastructure projects to wide-
span bridges and piers in harsh environments. We understand the
complexities of construction in densely developed urban sites.

#Underpinning
Planning Permission
Maintenance on foundations generally does not require planning permission.
However, if you live in a listed building or designated area (conservation
area, national park, area of outstanding natural beauty) you should check
with your local planning authority before carrying out any work.
Building Regulations
If you need to underpin all or part of the foundations of your building,
building regulations apply. The regulations specifically define this as 'building
work' and appropriate measures must be applied to ensure the underpinning
stabilises the movement of the building.
Particular attention will need to be given to any sewers and drains near the
work.
Underpinning is a method of construction that sees the depth of the
foundations to a building being increased. The soil beneath the existing
foundation is excavated and is replaced with foundation material, normally
concrete, in phases.
Underpinning requires close attention to design, methodology and safety
procedures. If not carried out properly, this kind of work poses very
real risks and could see damage to or collapse of the existing home.
The reasons for underpinning are generally:
The existing foundations of the building have moved this is caused by
poor soil or changes to the soil conditions (e.g. subsidence has occurred).
There has been a decision to add another storey to the building, either
above or below ground level, and the depth of the existing foundations is
inadequate to support the modified building or load (weight) of it.
Underpinning work requires very careful planning and execution. If you
propose to underpin an existing foundation, approval under the building
regulations will normally be required. Gaining such approval will usually
involve the preparation of a structural design of the underpinning, including
the process to be carried out during construction. An initial step, before
substantial commencement of the work, will generally be for a trial hole to
be dug next to the existing footings for a structural engineer or surveyor to
make an assessment of the circumstances of the case.
Methods and Inspections
The exact method to be employed for underpinning will depend on the many
circumstances of the case. To avoid excessively undermining the existing
foundations, causing further damage to the structure above, the excavations
for the underpinning should be carried out to engineers instructions and
details.
If not carried out properly, this kind of work poses very real risks
and could see damage to or collapse of the existing home. You are
therefore advised to employ experienced people for the design (for example,
an experienced designer and structural engineer) and construction (for
example, somebody with experience of underpinning and general building
work) to carry out the project.
A typical method is for short sections of underpinning to be carried out one
at a time. Depending on how much of the foundation is to be underpinned it
may be possible for more than one section to be carried out simultaneously
subject to them being sufficiently remote from each other.
The excavation for each section of underpinning will normally be inspected
by a design engineer and a building control surveyor before it is concreted.
Filling the excavation with concrete will not guarantee that the underpinning
will provide sound support to the existing foundation, because of the real
possibility that voids between the two will remain. Therefore, it is usually
necessary for a sand & cement packing to be rammed into the void to
ensure the support. This may also be inspected by the engineer and
building control surveyor
The timing of each stage and the specification of the materials to be used
will vary on a case by base basis and should normally be the subject of a
structural engineers design.



Underpinning is a method used to increase foundation depth or
repairing faulty foundations. This might be the case if you plan to add
stories to an existing structure or when the foundation has been damaged.
One visible sign that your building needs underpinning are cracks
appearance. When a building needs a foundation repair some cracks,
especially wider than inch appear visible, meaning than an
underpinning needs to be done. Foundation failures could also be considered
as heaved foundations, cracked or buckled walls and cracked concrete floors.
Underpinning: Mass Pour
The most used method of underpinning is mass pour method. Excavate
sections in sequence to a pre-established depth below the footing and place
concrete on each pit. Repeat the method until the entire affected area has
been underpinned.
Underpinning: Screw Piles and Brackets
Underpinning with screw piles and brackets is normally used in certain
instances where traditional underpinning process is not
possible.Some buildings might require excavating to great depths or maybe is
unfeasible to use a piling rig and the screw piles and brackets method is
then selected. The screw piles and brackets can be installed by only a two
man screw by hand or using small equipment such as a mini
excavator. Screw piles can be installed in foundations having the
capacity to work in tension and compression, withstand vertical and
lateral wind forces, and vibration and shear forces. They are ideal
when used with underpinning support brackets. The structure can then be
lifted back to a level position and the weight of the foundation transferred to
the pier and bracket system.
Screw piles have many advantages over traditional pilings, such as the
speed of installation, little noise and minimal vibration that may cause
damage to the surrounding area.
Underpinning: Pile and Beam
Underpinning with pile and beams is another great and preferred method to
alleviate footing. Using this system requires that a min-pile must be installed
on either side of the affected wall. After the piles have been installed, then
brickwork is removed below the wall and reinforced concrete needle beam is
used to connect the piles and support the wall. Reducing the distance
between needle beams can accommodate very high loads. The bearing
capacity of the underlying strata will determine the number, diameter, depth
and spacing of piles used.Augered piles or case driven piles can be used with
this method of underpinning. The advantages of underpinning with pile and
beams are:
Suitable for restricted access
Faster than traditional underpinning
High load capability
Less disruption, less spoil generated and completed quickly
Underpinning: Piled Raft
Underpinning with piled raft, must be used when the whole structure need to
be underpinned. It is recommended when foundations are too deep for other
underpinning methods or in areas where thesoil is so hard that small
equipment could not excavated up to require depth. Piles are placed at
determined locations by loading conditions; then pockets below footings are
broken, and reinforced needle beams are placed to bear the walls load. A
ring beam is then built to link all needles and the structure is poured with
concrete.
Advantages of this system are:
Provides lateral and traverse ties throughout the structure.
Economical at depths greater than 1.5m.
No need for external access.
Reduces disruption to drainage systems.
What is Underpinning? Underpinning
Tips
Underpinning in foundation should be addressed and supervised by an engineer.
The underpinning process must be started from the corners and the working
inwards.
Underpinning must be made only on load bearing walls.
Do not underpin below non-load bearing walls.
Start underpinning under a strip of footing. It is recommended to start with at
least 3 feet long, two feet wide and two feet depth.
After the excavation has been completed add concrete to the cavity. Concrete
should be mixed using one part cement, three parts sand and six parts
aggregates.
Remember to use formwork on the edges.
Allowed concrete placed to set for at least two days.
Use a rod bar ensuring that the cavity under the existing foundation is filled up.
Ensure that the concrete is cured thoroughly before loading it.
Once the concrete has gained sufficient strength, break off the projecting
footing.
Cut the concrete with the mass of concrete surface.
Back fill and compact. If you are having problems achieving required
consolidation, use a hose to add water to the soil.

#. Underpinning is a method used to increase the foundation depth. This may be done in
case a developer wants to add more stories to a building. Also, the foundation could be
damaged by tree roots and this method used for correction.The adjacent construction
may have foundations lower than the existing thus requiring to be lowered. If basements
are constructed very near an existing building, the foundation may need to be changed.
The reason is for stability of the existing house. Cracks may appear in a building up to
the base thus needing a foundation remedy.
The underpinning in foundations may be undertaken and but supervised by an
engineer. This works should follow instructions keenly for safety. Before any
commencement, of work the area of operation should be hoarded. The works take from
excavation to finishes approximately a month to complete. The area to work on is
measured and mapped out. The work should commence from the corners working
inwards. This is done on load bearing walls only. Foundations without any load bearing
walls are exempted. The defects on these walls can be corrected using most simple
methods.
The underpinning in foundations starts with excavations. This should be done under a
strip footing. A length of one meter, a width of half a meter and depth of half a meter pit
is dug. This is done in stages of two meters. This is distance between the pits. After the
excavations, mass concrete is added to the cavity. Mixes are one part cement, three
parts sand and six parts aggregates. Concrete is made to a good consistence and is
poured into the cavity. Use form work on the edges. Use a rod bar ensuring that the
cavity under the existing foundation is filled up.
After the underpinning concrete is placed in the cavity, its allowed to set for two days.
The operation is repeated for the next bay. This continues until the required foundation
is complete. Ensure that the concrete is cured thoroughly before loading it. The next
thing is to break off the projecting foundation. Cut the concrete flush with the mass
concrete surface. after this is completed for all the bays, soil is then back filled and
compacted thoroughly. Watering with a hose is done for consolidation of the soil. This is
done upon completion of the work.
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#. Underpinning
In construction or renovation, underpinning is the process of strengthening
the foundation of an existing building or other structure. Underpinning may be
necessary for a variety of reasons:
The original foundation is simply not strong or stable enough.
The usage of the structure has changed.
The properties of the soil supporting the foundation may have changed (possibly
through subsidence) or were mischaracterized during design.
The construction of nearby structures necessitates the excavation of soil supporting
existing foundations.
To increase the depth or load capacity of existing foundations to support the addition
of another storey to the building (above or below grade).
It is more economical, due to land price or otherwise, to work on the present
structure's foundation than to build a new one.
Earthquake, flood, drought or other natural causes have caused the structure to
move, thereby requiring stabilisation of foundation soils and/or footings.
Underpinning may be accomplished by extending the foundation in depth or in breadth
so it either rests on a more supportive soil stratum or distributes its load across a
greater area. Use of micropiles
[1]
and jet grouting are common methods in underpinning.
An alternative to underpinning is the strengthening of the soil by the introduction of
a grout, including expanding urethane-based engineered structural resins.
Underpinning may be necessary where P class (problem) soils in certain areas of the
site are encountered.
Through semantic change the word underpinning has evolved to encompass
all abstract concepts that serve as a foundation.
Contents
[hide]
1 Mass Concrete Underpinning
2 Beam and base underpinning
3 Mini-piled underpinning
4 Mini-piled underpinning schemes
5 Underpinning by expanding resin injection
6 Gallery
7 References
8 External links
Mass Concrete Underpinning[edit]
'Traditional underpinning,' the mass concrete underpinning method is nearly 100 years
in age, and the protocol has not changed. This underpinning method strengthens an
existing structure's foundation by digging boxes by hand underneath and sequentially
pouring concrete in a strategic order. The final result is basically a foundation built
underneath the existing foundation. This underpinning method is generally applied when
the existing foundation is at a shallow depth, however, the method still works very well
even at fifty feet (fifteen meters) deep. The method has not changed since its inception
with its use of utilitarian tools such as shovels and post hole diggers. Heavy machinery
is not called for in this method due to the tight nature of the boxes being dug. There are
several advantages to using this method of underpinning including the simplicity of the
engineering, the low cost of labor to produce the result, and the continuity of the
structure's uses during construction.
Beam and base underpinning[edit]
The beam and base method of underpinning is a more technically advanced adaptation
of traditional mass concrete underpinning. A reinforced concrete beam is constructed
below, above or in replacement of the existing footing. The beam then transfers the load
of the building to mass concrete bases, which are constructed at designed strategic
locations. Base sizes and depths are dependent upon the prevailing ground conditions.
Beam design is dependent upon the configuration of the building and the applied loads.
Anti-heave precautions are often incorporated in schemes where potential expansion of
clay soils may occur.
[2]

Mini-piled underpinning[edit]
Mini-piles have the greatest use where ground conditions are very variable, where
access is restrictive, where environmental pollution aspects are significant, and where
structural movements in service must be minimal.
[3]
Mini-piled underpinning is generally
used when the loads from the foundations need to be transferred to stable soils at
considerable depths - usually in excess of 5 m (16 ft). Mini-piles may either be augured
or driven steel cased, and are normally between 150 mm (5.9 in) and 300 mm (12 in) in
diameter. Structural engineers will use rigs which are specifically designed to operate in
environments with restricted headroom and limited space, and can gain access through
a regular domestic doorway. They are capable of constructing piles to depths of up to
15 m (49 ft). The technique of minipiling was first applied in Italy in 1952, and has gone
through a plethora of different names, reflecting worldwide acceptance and expiration of
the original patents.
[3]

The relatively small diameter of mini-piles is extremely distinctive of this type of
underpinning and generally uses anchoring or tie backs into an existing structure or
rock. Conventional drilling and grouting methods are used for this method of
underpinning. These mini-piles have a high slenderness ratio, feature substantial steel
reinforcing elements and can sustain axial loading in both senses.
[3]
The working loads
of mini-piles can sustain up to 1,000 kN (100 long tons-force; 110 short tons-force)
loads.
In comparison to Mass Concrete Underpinning, the engineering aspect of mini-piles is a
bit more involved, including rudimentary engineering mechanics such as statics and
strength of materials. These mini-piles must be designed to work in tension and
compression, depending on the orientation and application of the design. In detail,
attention with design must be paid analytically to settlement, bursting, buckling,
cracking, and interface consideration, whereas, from a practical viewpoint, corrosion
resistance, and compatibility with the existing ground and structure must be regarded.
[3]

Mini-piled underpinning schemes[edit]
Mini-piled underpinning schemes include pile and beam, cantilever pile-caps and piled
raft systems. Cantilevered pile-caps are usually used to try and avoid disturbing the
inside of a building and require the construction of tension and compression piles to
each cap. These are normally linked by a beam. The pile and beam system usually
involves constructing pairs of piles on either side of the wall and linking them with a pile
cap to support the wall. Again, the pile caps are usually linked by reinforced concrete
beams to support the entire length of the wall. Piled raft underpinning systems are
commonly used when an entire building needs to be underpinned. The internal floors
are completely removed, a grid of piles is installed and a reinforced concrete raft is then
constructed over the complete floor level, picking up and fully supporting all external
and internal walls.
Underpinning by expanding resin injection[edit]
A mix of structural resins and hardener is injected into foundation ground beneath
footings. On entering the ground the resin and hardener mix and expansion occurs due
to a chemical reaction. The expanding structural resin mix fills any voids and crevices,
compacts any weak soil and then, if the injection is continued, the structure above may
be raised and re-levelled. This relatively new method of underpinning, has been in
existence for approximately 30 years, and because it does not involve any construction
or excavation set-up, is known to be a clean, fast and non-disruptive underpinning
method.
Gallery[edit]

Sketch of a cast in situ RC cantilever needle beam on micro piers or piles. Access to
inside not needed
.

Sketch of a standard needle beam on micro piers or piles. Inside access needed.

Sketch of concrete pier underpinning with the possibility of raising foundations
.

Sketch showing the traditional method of needling a wall to reduce the weight on the
foundations during underpinning work.

Underpinning the foundations of a railway bridge using a timber box crib to support the
bridge. A completed concrete pad underpinning can be seen at the bottom right.]

Drilling machines using jet grouting

Close to the drilling head