Oh, Melbourne. Is Melbourne a place where coffee and culture are as important as weather or climate? It’s a little bit like a game of chess. Under the clamor of the trams and the chatter from the laneway cafes is a tale that’s rarely told. The topic is TLC underpinning – yes, it may not be the most exciting, but stay with me, because this story is more intriguing than you would think.
So, what’s underpinning? Imagine that you are putting a belt on to help hold your pants in place after they’ve become too loose. Buildings that are sinking or developing cracks may benefit from underpinning because their foundation is no longer as stable as it once was. Melbourne’s moody weather patterns and varied soil types make this more common than one might expect.
Imagine yourself enjoying a beautiful sunny day in your own backyard. Then, all of a sudden, cracks appear along the walls, large enough for an ant riot. Melbourne soil, especially the clay rich kind which expands and contracts when damp. It can be a real problem for buildings.
Do not worry! This is where the underpinnings come into play. Underpinning is like providing your home with sturdy boots that will allow it to stand strong against anything the earth decides it wants to throw its way.
What are their tricks? Some tricks are up their sleeves. Concrete can be poured under an existing foundation for more stability. Think of this as adding additional legs to a wobbly desk. There’s also something that looks like it came straight from a sci fi movie – resin injection. The soil is glued together by injecting glue in the ground.
It’s important to remember screw piles. Although they may seem boring, these are actually large screws driven deep into the earth until they find stable soil. You’re anchoring your home to bedrock, so that it can’t move an inch.
The whole thing isn’t about just keeping your floor level or doors closed properly. It also involves peace of heart. The comfort of knowing that your home will not suddenly move is priceless.
Another cool benefit of underpinning is that it preserves history. Melbourne is dotted with old, beautiful buildings. They tell tales from the past. If we do not underpin, these connections to our past may be lost. After all, who wants to live in or work at a structure that is doing its Leaning Tower of Pisa impersonation?
We can actually be kinder to the planet by repairing and reusing what we already have, instead of tearing down everything we own. Mother Nature will get a little break from the construction of new buildings and less waste.
You need to hire someone with a good understanding of underpinnings because every structure has its quirks. It is like your friend, who insisted on cutting his sandwich diagonally. Otherwise it would “not taste right.” Listening carefully before jumping into solutions is what you want.
You can now enjoy the fascinating underpinnings of Melbourne’s streets. They may not make for good dinner-party conversation (unless your guests are all checking their smartphones), but they still provide a lot to think about. When you are walking through Melbourne, don’t just look at what’s on the surface. Look beneath it as well.