knock down or underpin

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Discussion started by plasterer
Started on Tue, 27/07/2010 - 13:39

I have an old 2 storey single skin extension that needs knocking down and rebuilding. the size is 6 meters long by 3 metres wide. one of the 6 metre length walls is a solid 9 inch wall and building regs have told me if I underpin it it can stay up. This wall also runs along a private alleyway and I would like to keep it up if possible but would it be cheaper to knock down and rebuild the whole extension or underpin this one wall and rebuild the rest? any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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#1

Re: knock down or underpin

Stephen F Smith
Tue, 27/07/2010 - 17:40
Stephen F Smith's photo

I am a construction project manager who works directly for both commercial or domestic clients in the South West, although I can be tempted further afield for the right project.

Plasterer,

You don't say why your wall needs underpinning. I take it the ground is rubbish. Perhaps you might consider piled underpinning. This could take place on your property with cantilevered piles into that wall and all below ground.
In addition, while the rig is there you could use them to form the new foundations for your extension. It really is not as expensive as it sounds. The biggest cost is actually getting the rig there and set up, after that, it's just holes and concrete. The rigs can be a small as a baby mini digger. I've had one inside a building before now underpinning party walls.
I don't know where you are in the country but you will find piling firms in the yellow pages and I am sure you will find them helpful some of them just love a challenge!

Good luck anyway,

Steve

#2

Re: knock down or underpin

plasterer
Tue, 27/07/2010 - 19:59
plasterer's photo

Hello Steve,
Thanks for the advice, Im in hertfordshire. I dont have any foundations under the extension which is why i have been told to pull it down, the other two walls are only single skin but the one im considering underpinning is a solid wall. The extension was basically a real bodge job and is going to cost mea lot to put right so I am looking at the cheapest option.
thanks again

#3

Re: Re: knock down or underpin

Steve Smith (not verified)
Tue, 27/07/2010 - 22:58
Steve Smith's photo

Plasterer,

Yup, thats what I was suggesting. You are going to have to provide foundations anyway and if the ground is bad then they are likely to be deep. mini piles can be as cheap as £140 each drilled and filled ready for ground beams which you could do yourself wit an engineers design. That wont cost you much on such a basic building. if you get tied down with hand underpinning you could end up paying out a lot more. the added benifit is that you will know how much you will be paying before the work starts. i take it from your tag that you are a plasterer. You know how it goes...a guy gives you a price and then oops it needs to be deeper etc etc...

Anyway good luck.

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