Underpinning is a repair method for home subsidence when soil shrinks and disrupts the structural integrity. Underpinning strengthens the foundation of a home that needs support to boost its bearing capacity. 

While there are varying options when it comes to the types of underpinning, the traditional method is mass concrete underpinning. Traditional underpinning involves excavating; the excavation is then replaced with concrete to support the home’s foundation. 

Different factors determine which type of underpinning is right for your project. An underpinning contractor will conduct ground engineering to review soil types, the site, and the property. The solution must factor that into the conversation if there are reactive soils, particularly reactive clays. 

The cost of underpinning varies depending on various factors, such as:

• The type of foundation. 
• The extent of damages or structural issues. 
• The size and complexity of the building. 
• Location (e.g. inner Melbourne CBD versus a location on the city’s outskirts that takes longer to travel to, like Flemington, Princes Hill, or Alphington). 
• The materials used (e.g., concrete, steel, helical piers, etc.). 
• The size of the structure.

While the underpinning costs can vary quite a bit, here are some price ranges that will help provide you with a good understanding of how much the price can vary:

• Minor underpinning: $5,000 to $10,000.
• Moderate underpinning: $10,000 to $30,000+.
• Commercial underpinning: $30,000 to $100,000+.

An important part of the quote is ‘building accessibility.’ If the building is harder to access, then this could also increase the costs. This is one of the reasons why commercial buildings are more expensive than residential house levelling jobs because they are larger and more complex projects. 

There are clear signs of subsidence issues; if any of these are noticeable in your home, you should contact a reliable underpinning Melbourne company for an expert opinion. 

• Subsidence: The building is sinking or titling. This is the clearest sign of trouble if your home tilts or sinks. 
• Uneven floors: The floors are not level. This might not always be immediately apparent, but you can test your floors with a spirit level or by using a ball at each end or corner to see whether it runs away. 
• Cracking walls: Walls are developing cracks. While a simple hairline crack could be down to settlement, not all cracks are equal. If they appear suddenly or existing cracks start to get longer or wider, it could indicate more profound issues. 
• Doors and windows that don’t open and close properly: Home subsidence often shows in your doors and windows. In addition to them not opening and closing properly or jamming, you may notice the frames separating. 
• Leaks in the basement or foundation: If you have leaks in the foundations or basement or noticed pooling water, there’s a good chance you have a subsidence issue on your hands and require underpinning. 

Various underpinning solutions are available, and the right concrete underpinning method for you will depend on various factors. If you have cracks in walls and need wall crack repair, we can carry out resin injections to deal with those issues in your Melbourne home. 

If the issues exceed simple crack repairs, we will advise you on the correct repair method. Often, after house levelling, slab jacking, slab lifting or underpinning, the cracks naturally close. If they don’t, resin injections can be done using damp proofing. 

The benefits of using Raise + Relevel for your underpinning Melbourne needs

• The R+R team is fully licensed and insured.
• Our dedicated team is vastly experienced, with highly qualified engineers and technicians.
• As underpinning specialists, we aim to get the diagnosis right first to avoid a worsening situation. We can get to the root of the problem to determine the best course of action.

• We offer a free consultation to assess your needs and will provide a full quote.
• We work closely with you throughout the underpinning process, from start to finish, and ensure your satisfaction with our work.

Whether you’re dealing with the crumbing concrete slabs of a heritage-listed building, the cracking floors and walls of a civil infrastructure building, or tree roots plaguing a government building, we can provide a structural engineer to determine the underlying issue. Contact our friendly expert team today if you need underpinning services in Melbourne.