Tag: Foundations

October 10, 2019

Final call for repair coverage: Precision Solutions

Following the 15 August Government policy announcement that owners of on-sold over-cap Canterbury properties can apply for an ex-gratia payment to cover repairs, Precision Solutions is urging locals to have their properties assessed.

The policy gives homeowners 12 months (no later than 14 August 2020) to register their interest.

House relevelling company, Precision Solutions, says the time to check levels and foundation issues is now. Contracts manager Charles Porter estimates there may be “thousands of people out there who don’t know they have problems”.

“It’s only for a year, and if you think of how many homes have been bought and sold in Christchurch since 2011… There are pockets in Christchurch that sustained more damage than people realise, and I’m not talking about the east side, that’s pretty obvious. I’m talking about everywhere, including Papanui, Casebrook and Cashmere, where people have purchased houses which have settlement issues and earthquake damage that they are not aware of. When they try to sell, they may be forced to get a builder’s report which will then show up any issues. If you miss this time period to make a claim you could be out tens of thousands of dollars.”

The team offers a free initial site visit within the Christchurch area that provides assessment to identify issues and help navigate the remedial path. They work alongside engineers and industry professionals to provide the homeowner with a complete package to repair their homes properly.

“We do a floor level survey free of charge. This helps us identify any foundation settlement and potential earthquake damage. If there is a problem we can help them go through the process. We can help them navigate what they need to do with EQC, which is actually pretty straightforward. We provide a copy of the floor level survey which they can make a remedial claim with.”

Precision Solutions offers house relevelling, building and renovation work and a project management service.

“If you think you have issues, do something about it now before it’s too late when the year’s up,” urges Charles. “I would suggest 90 percent of the calls I get result in finding damage to the house that needs rectifying.

“Our assessment and quote is obligation and cost-free. We can also work with homeowners to help project-manage the entire repair.”

www.precisionsolutions.nz

April 21, 2018

Local quake building innovation: how ABI Piers found a way to do their bit for the Christchurch rebuild

Since 2011 the directors of ABI Piers have managed commercial and residential earthquake repairs and rebuilds throughout Christchurch. With more than 40 years’ experience in construction, Chris and Nigel Colenso saw that large commercial buildings had expensive base isolation systems to protect them from earthquake damage, but there was no cost-effective system to protect smaller buildings.

Theunis Klok, Callaghan Innovation Engineering Technologist.

To fill that gap in the market, they developed three versions of the ABI Piers foundation system to suit most locations. During severe earthquakes, the ABI Piers foundation system protects buildings, occupants and contents, preventing the full force of the quake affecting the house. The support springs flex and re-centre the building while soaking up seismic energy.
Theunis Klok, an Engineering Technologist at Callaghan Innovation, is having the system installed under his home. “I first heard about the ABI Piers system at my workplace when Chris came to show us the technology,” Theunis says.
“It appealed to me because I never want to go through the stress, financial hardship and unnecessary cost [of an earthquake] ever again. ABI Piers will permanently repair the earthquake damaged foundation of my house and ‘future proof’ my biggest investment.
“I believe the ABI Piers system is better than alternative foundations currently on the market and the cost compares really well.”
The system has been tested by BRANZ as compliant with the New Zealand Building Code. If post-earthquake relevelling of the home is required, the piers are easily relevelled and height adjusted back to as new position. Visit www.abipiers.com.

April 19, 2018

A precise relevelling project: How Precision Solutions got Jim and Linda back in their home with minimal fuss

When Linda Horan and Jim Mitchell moved to their new home in Woolston in 2004, they intended to stay there for life. It was shiny and new, and closer to work and family.

Before

After

Like so many however, they experienced significant disruption in the earthquakes and thus began a long process to find resolution. They considered several options but wanted to stay in Woolston. The house had sunk 100mm and suffered serious cracks in the foundation slab. They had plans drawn up for a rebuild.
Then they contacted Precision Solutions, a foundation and floor relevelling specialist which had done some work for Linda’s niece, who had been thoroughly impressed. Precision Solutions put together a plan to repair Jim and Linda’s house, simpler, less expensive and quicker than the proposed rebuild. The plan was to lift the house back to where it should be. Simple.
“Fundamentally,” says Precision Solutions Contract Manager, Charles Porter, “It’s quite a simple process. Physically however, it’s a bit more complicated.”
The whole lifting and relevelling process took three weeks. Most of the time was spent in preparation, clearing the house, digging underpinning holes and pouring lifting pads. The house was then lifted and levelled, millimetres at a time.
After some other renovations, Jim and Linda were back in their home after only 12 weeks. “We’re so happy with it,” Linda says. “Precision’s people were very thorough. They worked every day. They were never late and, what they said they’d do, they did. Sometimes they stayed late to finish what they were doing. We were very impressed with their attitude, and their price was $18,000 cheaper than another reputable competitor.”

April 15, 2018

Foundations right first time: we talk to local firm Fraser Thomas about finding the right geotechnical engineer

Geotechnical engineering is a highly specialised form of engineering that deals with foundation design for buildings. If the engineer gets it wrong, remediation can be very expensive.

In California, insurance companies sick of paying out on claims covering negligence of incompetent engineers started a special licensing regime to ensure only qualified geotechnical engineers undertake geotechnical work.
In New Zealand there is currently no robust system in place to ensure only qualified chartered professional (geotechnical) engineers are providing geotechnical advice for building developments.
“When seeking geotechnical consultancy services, you should satisfy yourself that the engineer is appropriately qualified and experienced,” says Mason Reed of Fraser Thomas Limited.
“The Chartered Engineer register on the Engineering NZ website can confirm whether an engineer is Chartered and in which field (ie. structural, fire, civil). If you take advice on geotechnical matters from an engineer who is not a chartered professional (geotechnical) engineer, you do so at your own risk.”
Fraser Thomas has been providing expert geotechnical consultancy services for 50 years. “We have a sound understanding of geomechanics and provide foundation solutions which are best suited for the site conditions, which can sometimes result in significant cost savings for our clients in foundation construction costs.”
Fraser Thomas has a long history in identifying and mitigating the effects of a variety of geotechnical hazards ranging from residential and commercial to large infrastructure projects, such as landfills. “We have particular experience in slope stability assessments, including cliff lines/coastal erosion affects, foundation design on soft highly compressible soils, piled foundation design and the provision of foundation solutions for sites on liquefiable soils.”
In a shaky land, it is vital work.