Cause
Unconsented excavation to create a basement space
Repair
- excavation can seriously weaken foundations, especially where:
- it is extensive and has undermined foundations
- it has left piles close to the edge of an unsupported bank
- the pile footings have been exposed
- a chartered professional engineer or registered building surveyor should be called in to give an opinion
- shovelling soil back around the footings or base of the piles is not a solution. It will not provide the strength needed in the foundations
- in some cases, repiling or the installation of new members to support the floor may be required. This falls into the category of ‘restricted building work’. When done by a contractor, it must be carried out or supervised by a licensed building practitioner with a Foundations licence
- if the excavation affects one or two piles, replacing these in the same location will not require a building consent (but still needs to comply with the Building Act). Repiling all of a house or a substantial area will require building consent.
Cause
Slumping of existing excavation