Underpinning your home before major damage occurs is the right way to proceed. Having your home assessed for underpinning can be critical as it may very well alert you to something much more sinister going on. The question is, is the movement really due to failing foundations or is it something else? Movement can be caused by many factors such as:
- Leaky drains
- Decaying materials
- Water table fluctuations
- Nearby alterations
- Traffic
- Vibrations
- Inadequate drainage
- Settlement
- Tree roots
Correctly diagnosing the cause of your movement will go a long way in providing a long term solution that will actually work for years to come.
Once a home has been adequately supported by way of underpinning it will enable you to now carry out cosmetic work. Painting and patching prior to underpinning could be a waste of time and money as cracking can continue, further movement will damage any remedial work carried out. Patching of cracks prior to underpinning can also prevent lift which means closing gaps in cracks during the process may not be as successful.
It can also save you money in the long run as it may prevent further movement in other parts of the home, resulting in less piers being required when remedial work is undertaken & therefore a less costly repair bill for you.