House raising, sometimes referred to as house lifting, describes the fitting of infrastructure to lift a property from its existing foundations to a higher level. Typically, this is carried out using screw jacks or hydraulics. Needless to say, this is a major undertaking that requires expertise in all facets of construction. Only a professional business, like SF Restumping Melbourne, should attempt this – and only certain kinds of properties are suitable. It is important to be diligent, because if anything goes wrong, the ramifications might be lethal.
Effective Protection Against Floods
One key reason why people opt to have their properties raised is to stop flood waters from damaging them. If homes have been constructed on ground that is low lying, or the surrounding waterways change their course and deviate, there could be a flood risk. This can cause a loss of life, and a loss of personal possessions that are irreplaceable. Photographs that have sentimental value cannot be saved from severe flood damage. People who lose items like this often find the experience traumatic.
Instead of standing by as their properties are destroyed by nature’s forces, people choose to hire a professional company to keep them out of danger. Before floods became an issue, councils never used to allow properties to be raised significantly higher. Now though, this practice allows people to avoid the negative effects of rising damp and water. Also, it enables homeowners add additional rooms to their properties when required.
The Benefits of Restumping
Restumping is another practice that has become increasingly common, due to a rise in termite infestations. Also, the stumps on some properties move out of position, because of water inundation. This occurs in flood hit properties and in properties located on high slopes, where water rushes underneath during torrential rain. Most of the time, this happens with older properties that have stood on their stumps for hundreds of years. It can occur with other properties too, though.
Restumping readjusts new stumps to an upright angle and keeps a property’s interior floorboards even. In areas that are vulnerable to termite infestations, lots of people choose to use concrete stumps for restumping. This is more likely to prevent infestations from happening. Undoubtedly, this is a worthwhile strategy to ease the concerns of homeowners. The stumps will not need replacing either.
House Raising for Renovations
Many people opt to renovate their properties to add more rooms or gain additional space. Frequently, if they can afford it – and their property is a suitable type of property – they will get it raised or lifted up to add more downstairs rooms. This is a good way of increasing their property’s size. After raising it, they fit the property with new foundations to keep it secure in its different position. This requires an engineer’s help, to ensure its safety and to check that the dwelling’s weight is suitable for the new foundations. Although this involves a considerable amount of work, it can improve people’s quality of life immensely. It gives them the space to spread their wings and enjoy their property.
Final Thoughts to Consider
House raising is ideal for many homeowners, who wish to safeguard their properties from future floods. Of course, before proceeding with a project like this, it is important to do your research. Your house should be structurally sound and located in an area prone to floods, unless you are having the work done for aesthetic reasons. If you are willing to pay the relevant permit fees, house raising will save you money and let you enjoy your property whatever the weather.
