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Battling Subsidence: How ABC Anchors’ Underpinning System Restores Foundations

  • Writer: Frank Leigh
    Frank Leigh
  • Nov 25
  • 2 min read

What Is Subsidence — and Why It’s a Foundation Risk

Subsidence occurs when the ground beneath a building sinks or shifts, causing the foundation to move. Common signs include diagonal wall cracks, sticking doors or windows, and uneven floors. It’s a serious issue that requires prompt action to prevent further structural damage.



Subsidence can be caused by several factors:

  • Soil shrinkage from dry weather or nearby trees

  • Leaking drains or groundwater washing away soil

  • Poorly compacted ground beneath the existing foundation

  • Decomposing organic material below the structure

Left untreated, subsidence can worsen - but modern underpinning provides a reliable solution.


What Is Underpinning – and Why Modern Methods Are Better to tackle Subsidence

Underpinning strengthens or stabilises a building’s existing foundation. While traditional underpinning often relies on large excavations and concrete, ABC Anchors offers a faster, cleaner, and more efficient approach using helical screw piles.


Here’s how our underpinning system works:

  1. Excavation – Carefully expose the underside of the existing foundation.

  2. Foundation Pocketing – Small pockets are cut beneath the foundation at regular centres.

  3. Screw Pile Installation – Helical piles are driven into stable ground using high torque to achieve the required load capacity.

  4. Jacking & Lifting – Jacking plates and hydraulic jacks are fitted to stabilise the structure.

  5. Equal Preloading – All piles are preloaded evenly to ensure balanced support.

  6. Backfilling – Once secure, the excavations are reinstated.

This modern underpinning method reduces noise, vibration, and site disruption while delivering long-lasting structural stability.


Why Choose ABC Anchors for Foundation Repairs and Underpinning

Our screw pile underpinning system offers significant advantages:

  • Fast installation compared to traditional concrete underpinning

  • Minimal disruption, with smaller excavations and quieter equipment

  • Long lifespan, thanks to galvanised steel piles designed for durability

  • Ideal for restricted access, using handheld or compact machinery

  • Environmentally friendly, with no large concrete pours and minimal soil disturbance

  • Exceptional stability, lifting or re-levelling where possible and preventing future movement


Where Our Underpinning System is Used

ABC Anchors’ underpinning system is suitable for a wide range of buildings and situations, including:

  • Homes suffering from subsidence

  • Extensions, conservatories, and older structures with shallow foundations

  • Properties on clay soils prone to shrinkage

  • Sites with difficult or restricted access

  • Buildings requiring staged lifting to restore level floors and walls


From Survey to Stabilising your Foundations– The Process

  1. Site Assessment – A structural engineer identifies the affected areas and the cause of foundation failure.

  2. Design Calculation – Load requirements, screw pile specifications, and bracket positions are determined.

  3. Installation – Piles are installed to the correct torque, ensuring they reach stable ground.

  4. Stabilisation – Hydraulic jacks adjust the foundation to the desired level.

  5. Completion – Excavated areas are backfilled, and the site is left clean and secure.


The Bottom Line

Subsidence is a major structural concern, but ABC Anchors provides a proven, efficient, and long-lasting underpinning solution. Our screw pile foundation repair system stabilises or re-levels buildings with minimal disruption, making it the ideal choice for homeowners, builders, and engineers looking for a modern alternative to traditional underpinning.



 
 
 

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