Sinking Brick Piers Stabilised, Saving a Newly Installed Kitchen
- O’Connor, ACT
The Brief
After installing a brand-new kitchen, the owners of this 1950s weatherboard home in O’Connor, Canberra, couldn’t believe their luck when, just a year later, it began separating from the wall. Cupboard doors became difficult to open, gaps appeared between the worktop and wall, and cracks started forming in the nearby interior walls.
Initially, they assumed their kitchen supplier or builder had done a poor job. However, after further investigation, the real issue became clear: two brick piers beneath the kitchen had sunk due to reactive clay soils, causing the floor to dip and leaving the kitchen in disarray.
Seeking solutions, the owners contacted local builders, who recommended dismantling the entire kitchen, lifting the floorboards, and installing steel piers. This process was estimated to cost $40,000 to $50,000 and would take weeks to complete. Hoping for a faster, less disruptive option, the owners turned to Buildfix for help.
The Challenge
The sinking brick piers were caused by reactive clay soil drying and shrinking over time. While the perimeter footings remained stable, the centre of the home had subsided, creating a pronounced dip beneath the kitchen floor. This movement not only risked further damage to the new kitchen but also threatened the home’s structural stability.
The challenge was to stabilise and lift the foundation with precision, addressing the root cause deep below the surface. Unlike traditional methods, which required dismantling the kitchen and removing floorboards, Buildfix needed to deliver a solution that avoided disruption to the home’s interior while ensuring a permanent fix.
Our Solution
Buildfix employed its advanced GeoPoly™ PJ30 pier jack resin to stabilise the foundation and restore the kitchen floor to its original level.
Our team drilled two small holes through the floor to access the foundation 2.7 metres below, where the reactive clay soils had caused instability. By injecting GeoPoly™ resin into the soil at this depth, we tackled the root cause of the subsidence, strengthening the ground and gently raising the brick piers.
Using precision laser monitoring, our technicians guided the lift millimetre by millimetre, ensuring the kitchen floor returned to level without disturbing the kitchen or surrounding structure. This method provided the accuracy and efficiency required to restore the home without the need for costly and invasive measures.
The Outcome
What could have been a $50,000, weeks-long project was completed in just four hours. By the end of the day, the kitchen was securely returned to its original position, gaps between the worktop and wall were closed, and cracks in the interior walls were visibly reduced.
The owners were relieved to avoid the disruption and expense of dismantling their kitchen and installing steel piers. They were thrilled with Buildfix’s ability to resolve the issue so quickly and seamlessly, saving them time, money, and stress.
This case demonstrates Buildfix’s expertise in providing cost-effective, minimally invasive solutions to complex structural problems, restoring homes and peace of mind for Australian homeowners.
