Oh, underpinning. Isn’t this something you would expect a Superhero to do? Underpinning access door has come to the rescue! Concrete is more important than capes. While it may not seem like a very exciting topic at first glance, stay with me. This is the unsung superhero of construction.

The building is there. Since years or decades, it has proudly stood. Recent years have seen it looking… worn. It could be that there are some cracks in the wall, or that doors won’t properly close. The building looks like it has leaned a little bit on its bar stool. The underpinning plays a role.

Imagine giving a tired, sagging building the fancy running shoes of marathon runners. What underpinning essentially does is give your tired building new life.

Then why suddenly would we be thrown off balance by a building? Sometime the ground underneath decides it wants to party, but forgets the invites for the buildings. Earth changes; soils shrink or are washed during droughts. Our structures become unsupported.

Enter stage left: underpinning methods! Like grandma’s recipe, traditional mass concrete is a simple yet highly efficient method. You excavate sections below the foundation then gradually fill these with concrete. While it is not rocket science, precision and patience are necessary.

Mini-piled underpinning is the coolest method to use when things are really complicated – for example, trying thread a sewing needle while you’re on a rollercoaster. This technique can drill deep into the soil (upto 15 meters!). The goal is to locate solid soil that can hold the above structure.

Why do we need to care? Imagine you were to come home from work one day only to find your house laying down… upside-down. That’s certainly not ideal. We need underpinning to keep our office and homes from sliding.

Also, it allows us to modify old buildings and use them for other purposes. They won’t crumble into a mess like cookies in milk. Do you want to make that old creepy cellar into a chic wine room or underground man caves? Substrate says: “No Problem!”

But let’s remember history too! These ancient buildings, which you’re always snapping photos for Instagram? Most of these buildings still remain because they have had some minor nips-and-tucks beneath ground level.

Don’t just think dirt and worms when exploring old castles or skyscrapers. There’s so much more. A complex dance is taking place between soil mechanics and engineers to ensure that everything remains upright.

The underpinning of our foundations is poetic in nature. As our lives progress and change, they remain rock solid.

It’s time to wrap up our discussion about underpinnings – less superheroes, perhaps, but not less important for keeping the earth safe. It’s important to remember that strong foundations lead to good things, be it buildings or relationships…but this story is for another day. You’re in for a real adventure as you navigate the digital terrain.