Cracked Walls and Sinking Brick Piers

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.

The homeowners were concerned about the foundation issues they were facing, and after consulting with local builders, they were advised that the only solution was brick pier replacement, involving a costly and disruptive construction process. They were told this would involve dismantling the kitchen, lifting the floorboards, and installing steel posts, estimated to cost $40,000 to $50,000 and take weeks to complete. Hoping for a faster, less invasive option, they turned to Buildfix for professional brick pier replacement and foundation repairs.

Buildfix offered a much-needed alternative that would resolve their foundation problems without disrupting the rest of their property. With a free assessment today, the owners were ready to explore a solution that would avoid the costly repairs and structural issues their home was facing.

Stabilising Footings and Soil Issues Beneath the Building

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. In many Sydney homes, ageing brick pier foundations and shifting soils are a common issue. Unlike traditional methods such as house underpinning, which often require major disruption to the property, Buildfix needed to deliver a solution that avoided disturbance to the home’s interior while ensuring a permanent fix.

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 allowed us to bypass traditional concrete footings and deliver a cleaner, faster solution—ideal for avoiding further damage to internal finishes or nearby brickwork.

Restoring Structural Integrity Without the Costly Construction Overhaul

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.

Seeing similar signs of sinking floor piers beneath your kitchen? A free assessment measures the floor levels and explains what floor pier repairs can do — without ripping up the kitchen.