Underpinning Adelaide
Underpinning Adelaide homes means strengthening the footings beneath a house that has moved.
We take a look, involve an engineer if needed, give you a clear written price and carry out the agreed work.
Fixing cracked walls and sinking footings in Adelaide
- Cracks in walls, inside or out
- Doors or windows sticking
- Floors sloping
- Gaps at cornices
Not every crack needs this
Some cracks are cosmetic. Not every crack needs underpinning.
Start with the Free Crack Check and we will tell you which way it looks.
Adelaide soil, your footings
The older inner, eastern and north-eastern suburbs sit on highly reactive clay.
Eastern-suburbs clay is known locally as Bay of Biscay soil. It shrinks a lot in dry spells and swells after heavy rain.
A stone home in Norwood or a brick home in Prospect is a useful example: we check that house and its footings, not just its suburb.
Many Adelaide homes are solid masonry on dwarf wall footings or raft slabs. Older homes are more affected.
The ways a footing can be underpinned
Common methods are mini bored piers, screw piles and mass concrete pads.
Which one suits depends on your soil, your house, access and the engineer design.
Guide prices
Underpinning
From around $1,500 per pier
Guide only, inc GST. Your fixed written price comes after we take a look.
Partial underpinning, typical home
From around $15,000
Guide only, inc GST. Your fixed written price comes after we take a look.
Full perimeter underpinning
Quoted after a look
Guide only, inc GST. Your fixed written price comes after we take a look.
What affects the cost
Every home sits on different ground, so the price is worked out for yours.
- How many piers your home needs
- The soil under the house
- Access around the footings
- Engineering design
- Approvals, where needed
Here's how it goes
- Share a few crack photos, about 2 minutes.
- You'll hear from us within 30 minutes.
- Often, a quick photo check shows if it looks cosmetic or needs a closer look.
- An engineer if needed, then a clear price in writing.
- We book a time that suits your plans and get the work done.
Approvals
Underpinning may need approval before work starts.
Check with your council or PlanSA whether your job needs approval before work starts.
Questions homeowners ask
Is my crack serious?
Some cracks are cosmetic. Not every crack needs underpinning.
Start with the form. When we reply, we'll explain how to share photos. We'll tell you if it looks cosmetic or needs an engineer to take a look.
Photos can't tell us what the footings are doing. An engineer checks the structure.
Do I need an engineer?
If the cracks point to footing movement, yes. An engineer checks the structure and designs the fix.
Industry reports note fault lines under parts of Adelaide, including around Burnside, Hope Valley, Clarendon and Crafers.
We look at your home rather than guessing the cause from its suburb.
We look after that as part of the job, so you deal with one team the whole way.
Do I need council approval?
Underpinning may need approval before work starts.
Check with your council or PlanSA. Approvals are checked as a step in our process, before any digging.
Can I stay in the house during the work?
It depends on your home, where the work is and what the engineer designs.
We'll talk it through with you before the job starts, so you can plan.
How long does underpinning take?
It depends on how many piers are needed, the soil, access and the engineer design.
We'll walk you through the plan for your home before work starts.
Will the cracks close up after underpinning?
Underpinning deals with the footings. It isn't a promise that every crack will close on its own.
Any crack repairs or making good should be included in the work you agree to.
How much does underpinning cost?
Price depends on how many piers, the soil, access, engineering and approvals.
See our guide prices, all inc GST. You get a fixed written price after we take a look.
Get a fast quote
Tell us what you're seeing. We'll be in touch within 30 minutes.
When we reply, we'll explain how to share photos of the cracks.