Oh, Melbourne! The city is a mix of culture, cafes, and… falling foundations? It’s true. There’s a big challenge lurking beneath our beloved laneways or historic buildings: The need for foundations. Like discovering that you need braces for your house to be straighter. Get the facts?
So, what’s underpinning? Imagine buying your family a fresh pair of footwear because their old shoes are worn. The underpinning of a building is similar to buying a pair of new shoes to replace the old ones.
Why do we have this in Melbourne? Our diverse soils are to blame. Melbourne’s ground is as unpredictable and unreliable as its weather. As a result, some buildings begin sinking and/or leaning with time. Not exactly what we want.
Jenga-style house building is popular. Workers dig out pits underneath your foundation. Concrete is then poured in, ensuring that the house remains flat. This is a delicate process – too much of one thing or another can ruin the entire neighborhood.
One technique that can be used is mini-piles and beams. It’s like adding house stilts. If you’re looking for a way to expand your basement without transforming it into a dig site, then this is the method for you.
The Victorian style homes are something we all admire. They were built without any thought of what was underneath. The tram vibrations over the decades and construction near by have shaken things around. Now you are left with some cracked walls and wonky flooring.
The trend isn’t limited to old buildings; the new ones are getting involved too. Melburnians want to dig deep for dreamy cellars, because who doesn’t desire an underground film? Making sure that ambitious construction projects do not impact nearby properties is crucial. Nobody wants to become “that guy” that caused the kitchen of next door to collapse because his wine cellar was too big.
But it’s definitely not a DIY project you could do on a lazy afternoon. This includes soil testing and load calculations. (No, they’re not for the gym.) Permits (lots of paper work), as well as keeping your neighbor happy.
Whatever the jokes about underpinning, this is a serious matter that needs professionals who are skilled and know their business. In order to maintain the city’s character while adapting it to modern life, we must ensure our homes will remain tall and proud in years to come.
There’s always more than you see when sipping your coffee down a small laneway. Below it all, there is an intricate balancing act between past and current – where the two meet head on. You can always remember this: living in the unpredictable city that we call our home, you will experience these underpinnings blues. We wish you a solid future and a solid foundation. When you’re walking through Melbourne’s city streets, don’t just look at what the surface offers. Look beneath it too.