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Every property is subject to subsidence over the duration of its lifetime. The issue of subsidence however is particularly common in older buildings constructed before modern construction methods became widely available. David Hedley, our head of infrastructure and commercial here at Mainmark UK, and specialist in ground engineering and improvement, sheds light on the types of property foundations, their vulnerabilities, and how innovative solutions like Mainmark’s Teretek® resin injection offer a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional repair methods.
Types of property foundations and their vulnerabilities
Property foundations can differ based on a multitude of factors such as soil type, geographical location, and the era in which the property was constructed.
Strip foundations
Strip foundations, which are commonly found in older residential buildings, consist of continuous concrete footings under load-bearing walls. While durable, they can fail in clay soils that shrink or swell due to moisture changes, often leading to cracks and subsidence over time.
Raft foundations
Raft foundations are another common type, often used for buildings on weak soils. These foundations distribute loads over a large area, providing stability. However, they are not immune to vulnerabilities; soil erosion or water ingress beneath the slab can weaken the foundation and cause it to settle unevenly. Similarly, piled foundations, often employed in high-rise structures or on unstable ground, transfer the load to deeper, more stable soil levels. Despite their strength, changes in ground conditions or improper installation can lead to shifting or settlement causing subsidence.
Pad foundations
Pad foundations, which are typically used in commercial buildings to support columns, are another example. While they are a cost-effective choice, they can suffer from differential settlement when the soil under one pad is weaker than the others, resulting in structural instability.
How Mainmark’s Teretek® offers a modern alternative
Subsidence itself is usually the result of external factors. Soil shrinkage, often caused by prolonged dry spells or the presence of water-demanding trees nearby, can reduce the ground’s ability to support a structure. Erosion from excessive water flow or instability caused by mining activity or poorly compacted soil can further exacerbate the problem.
For property owners grappling with the vulnerabilities of ageing foundations, Mainmark UK provides an innovative and effective solution in the form of Teretek® resin injection. This advanced ground engineering technology uses expanding polyurethane resins to fill voids, stabilise the soil, and re-level structures.
Unlike traditional underpinning methods, which involve extensive excavation and can be both costly and disruptive, Teretek® offers a sustainable alternative. The process is quick, efficient, and environmentally friendly, producing minimal waste and significantly reducing the carbon footprint of foundation repairs. Its cost-effectiveness is another advantage by avoiding the need for heavy labour and prolonged timelines, Teretek® saves property owners both time and money.
Teretek® can be adapted to suit a wide variety of foundation types and soil conditions, making it a viable option for residential, commercial, and even heritage properties. Furthermore, the minimal disruption caused by the process ensures that building occupants experience little to no inconvenience during the repair work.
Future-proofing your property
Understanding the risks associated with different types of property foundations is essential for protecting your building against the long-term effects of subsidence. With Mainmark UK’s cutting-edge Teretek® resin injection, property owners now have access to a reliable and sustainable solution that not only resolves existing issues but also helps to future-proof their assets in a timely manner.
For more information on how Mainmark can stabilise and protect your property, visit Mainmark UK.
About Mainmark
Mainmark is a leading UK provider of ground engineering and asset preservation services such as ground improvement, re-levelling, void filling, slab lifting, subsidence, and underpinning of commercial and residential projects, as well as sinkhole repair and pipe abandonment.
Mainmark was founded in 1989 and has successfully delivered more than 80,000 award winning projects across residential, commercial, infrastructure, and mining sectors across its 18 offices around the world. Mainmark’s UK arm is headquartered in Milton Keynes, supplying England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland with its patented, innovative, market leading solutions.
