Foundation Type

jcb208

Been to look at a property today and cant make out If it has been underpinned or built like it.It is one of is a pair of semi detached where a concrete beam runs along the front of both houses and the walls are built up on this beam, there is a void under the beam which is sitting on what looks like a concrete pad.The house was buit in the 70s. and a brook runs parallel about 15 mtrs from the front .Will this of been built like this or likely to be due to being under pinned

Doozergirl

What you describe is not underpinning. To all intents and purposes, underpinning is digging holes and filling them in with concrete, albeit in a calculated fashion. You wouldn't see any evidence of it above ground.

It doesn't ring any bells to me but I'd say it was built that way. Ask the vendors what type of construction it is!

pka_2

Sounds like it was probably built like that, but unusual to see foundations above the ground. Could be that what looks like a pad is actually a pile and house has been built up higher on the ring beam to prevent flooding.

Like doozergirl says ask the vendors or the estate agent.

jcb208

pka wrote: »

Sounds like it was probably built like that, but unusual to see foundations above the ground. Could be that what looks like a pad is actually a pile and house has been built up higher on the ring beam to prevent flooding.

Like doozergirl says ask the vendors or the estate agent.

I think your right,its just not the usual foundation for the estate as I looked at others nearby. the house is a probate sale in need of refurbishment so no one living there to ask

anotherbaldrick

Sounds as if the property has been given a piled foundation , probably due to the proximity of the brook and the waterlogged ground adjacent to it . What you are looking at is the pile caps and ground beams spanning onto them