Floor issues revealed deep structural instability

For years, the tenant of this Western Sydney social housing property had noticed their floor boards sinking in multiple areas — a common problem that often signals deeper structural issues. Over time, these uneven planks not only affected the functionality of the room but also raised concerns about safety, especially with heavy objects resting on unstable surfaces.

An investigation by Ventia, the agency responsible for maintaining the property, uncovered the root cause: a broken PVC pipe had caused significant soil erosion beneath the home. This erosion led to compromised supports and uneven floor lifting, making the flooring unstable and prone to further damage. The property featured a mix of laminate flooring and older materials, which had begun bulging and separating due to the instability and moisture exposure.

Buildfix was engaged to provide expert advice and deliver a fast, effective solution that would restore the property’s structural integrity without the need for removing the entire type of flooring — a costly and time-consuming option. Our team brought the right equipment and experience to handle this kind of subsidence issue with precision and minimal disruption.

Avoiding full floor removal with a smarter approach

Our team conducted a detailed walkthrough with Ventia’s housing manager to assess the extent of the sub-floor damage. The tenant had been temporarily relocated, allowing us full access to the property. While Ventia anticipated a lengthy two-week process, involving the removal of all flooring to carry out repairs, our innovative approach eliminated the need for such invasive measures.

Instead, we worked with precision around existing access holes left by the plumbing teams, saving time and avoiding disturbance to wood elements and baseboards. Though gaps and uneven surfaces are often attributed to natural expansion or other common reasons, this case involved a more serious structural issue. Our method allowed us to stay on schedule while minimising disruption.

Targeted lifting through precision resin injection

Upon inspection, we found that many of the floor piers had sunk significantly, with one area sinking by as much as 60mm— particularly near the middle of the property. Using our non-invasive DeepLift injection technique, we drilled directly through the vinyl flooring and subfloor to access each pier at a depth of 2.6 metres.

This method allowed us to inject our GeoPoly™ resin with pinpoint accuracy, lifting the floor structure without damaging the surface or requiring the removal of solid wood elements. Our team used specialised tools to ensure precision throughout the process, working carefully to maintain alignment and avoid introducing new gaps. We monitored the injection closely, adjusting each step based on real-time feedback to achieve optimal results.

Fast floor stabilisation with minimal disruption

The results exceeded expectations. Through careful monitoring during the injection process, we successfully raised the floor piers to near-perfect levels, eliminating the severe slopes that had plagued the home. Uneven floorboards were levelled, and no expansion gaps or misalignment remained.

What was anticipated to take two weeks was completed in just two days — a result made possible without removing flooring or using invasive methods. Any surface residue was easily cleaned with a damp cloth, and no additional finishing work involving a hammer or reinstallation was required.

Seeing similar signs of sinking floor piers in a rental property? A free assessment measures the floor levels and explains what floor pier repairs can do.