When discussing renovations to a home or repairing structural issues, “underpinning” comes up often. In Melbourne’s heritage areas, which are abundant in historic homes and structures, the need for underpinning to maintain stability and durability of those buildings is critical. Many homeowners are curious about the duration of underpinning work in Melbourne. Let’s jump right in more help!

Let’s start by defining what exactly underpinning means. Imagine your foundation as legs for a dining table. In order to stop the table from falling, you would have to reinforce, or fix, one of those legs. The process of underpinning involves reinforcing a building’s foundations. As with the fix for that wobbly desk leg, you need to do it correctly.

It depends on a number of factors. Below are some factors to take into consideration:

The size of the project: A small house may take less than a mansion with a lot more space or an office building. It could take a couple of weeks to build an average home.

Melbourne’s varied terrain can result in different soil types. A sandy soil might need a different treatment than clayey soils.

Selecting the foundation method. There are several options such as beam-and-base, mini piles, and traditional mass concrete. Each method comes with its own timetable, some being faster than others.

Melbourne’s often unpredictable weather may be a factor. It can be difficult to work if it rains, or if you are doing excavation.

You may experience delays in obtaining permits for your underpinning projects. The bureaucratic system can lead to delays.

Unexpected challenges: As in any renovations or construction work, the project timeline can be extended by unforeseen obstacles. The unexpected issue could be something as simple as a leaking pipe.

Due to these factors, you can safely say that the underpinning of most Melbourne residential properties takes anywhere from a week to several months. But remember to focus on the quality, not just how quickly you can get it done. It is possible to cause complications if you rush.