Why Resin Injection is a Better Option Than Concrete Underpinning

If the walls around your doorways or windows have large cracks, or you’ve noticed the floor sinking and sloping one way, then you need underpinning.

For as long as the world can remember, concrete underpinning was the only method to support the foundation of a property. But that all changed around three decades ago when resin injection underpinning was first introduced.

It has become increasingly popular worldwide and is preferred by many over the more traditional option.

So, which option should you opt for? Resin injection underpinning is the answer, and here’s why.

Differences Between Concrete and Resin Injection

Concrete Underpinning

Concrete underpinning has a long-running and functionally proven history which is what most people look for when deciding methods to strengthen their foundation.

It also has two types: one involves filling the area under the foundation with concrete until it levels back up to where it was before. The other method uses concrete nails or pilings hammered into the ground and attached to the below foundation to hold it in place.

Concrete underpinning is most popularly used for small projects. Even though it’s a tested and tried, dependable technique, it has tons of setbacks, including being slow, hard work-intensive, and an overall messy process.

Resin Injection Underpinning

Although it’s a much newer and more contemporary method, especially compared to concrete underpinning, it has largely proven its usefulness and practicality. Some people also use the resin injection method to reinforce backyards and build resin driveways in Australia.

The resin injection method involves drilling small holes and openings into the foundation’s ground and injecting them with an eco-friendly resin material. The resin expands underneath the foundation, which results in the foundation being lifted back into its correct position. As more resin is filled in, it gradually elevates the property.

However, it’s true if there’s a giant gap that needs to be filled under the property, resin injection might not be the most cost-effective method. But indifferent to its concrete alternative, resin injection underpinning has multiple advantages; some are mentioned below.

Advantages of Resin Injection Underpinning

It’s a Fast and Effective Process

Pouring concrete to underpin the foundation and waiting for it to dry up takes quite a lot of time.

The contractors will need to dig through areas around the foundation, clear them out, and then add supports, so they stay in place until the process is complete.

In the case of resin injections, the workers simply need to make openings in key areas of the foundation and inject the resin into it.

No Mess to Clean Up Afterwards

The large-scale excavation required to fill concrete for the traditional method typically leaves a huge mess that needs to be cleaned up after it’s done.

Even though most contractors will see to the cleaning themselves, it will be easy to tell that major structural changes have occurred in the area. And in some cases, you might have to learn how to clean the concrete mess around the site yourself and make some preparations.

It Doesn’t Require You to Evacuate

Since concrete underpinning involves extensive construction and digging beneath the property to reinforce its foundation, it requires the homeowners to evacuate and stay somewhere else until the process finishes.

Not only that, but it also disrupts the neighbor’s everyday routine and causes massive noise due to the large machinery. While on the other hand, resin injection is evacuation-free and usually takes about a day or two.