Understanding Foundation Problems in Devon Properties

Devon’s properties range from traditional stone cottages and terraced houses to coastal homes, rural buildings and modern commercial premises. Each requires an assessment that considers its construction, previous alterations and the conditions beneath it. A foundation problem affecting an older extension may need a different response from movement beneath the main walls of a newer building.

Changes in ground conditions, defective drainage and differences in foundation depth can contribute to uneven movement. However, cracks alone do not establish that foundations need strengthening. At ASRS, we consider the pattern of damage alongside the building’s history and any available investigation findings.

Where sinking ground is suspected, our existing subsidence repairs service provides further information about assessing movement and repairing the resulting structural damage.

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Helifix Approved Installer

ASRS is an approved installer of the Helifix Helibeam System, providing masonry reinforcement for suitable structural repair projects. These techniques can strengthen damaged walls and redistribute loads through the masonry while keeping much of the reinforcement concealed within the finished building.

Foundation stabilisation and repairs to the walls above may need to form part of the same programme. We consider how these elements work together before specifying the repairs. Where additional support beneath the property is necessary, the foundation solution is selected around the investigation findings, available access and loads involved.

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Call us for help with any of these

Common structural defects, issues and problems

Crack Repairs
Bay Window Repair
Concrete Repair
Micro Piles

Cavity Wall Tie Replacement
Movement Joints
Bridge Repairs & Maintenance
Conventional Piles

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Reasons

To trust ASRS

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Free Quotation

We offer free site visits to both domestic and professional clients to assess the problem and propose the appropriate repair programme, tailored to suit the specific needs of the project.

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Helifix Approved

ASRS are approved installers of the Helibeam System, offering cost effective, non-disruptive and concealed solutions to all aspects of remedial masonry stabilisation.

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Skilled Workforce

Our skilled installation teams are trained and experienced in all aspects of masonry repair. They have been trained to the highest standard in every installation process to cover all H+S requirements.

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Guaranteed

With most of our design and installation specifications we are proud to offer a 10yr indemnified guarantee on Helifix repairs and Micro Piling. We offer a 25yr guarantee for Wall Tie replacement.

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Next Steps for Your Foundation Repair Project

Start by telling us where the damage has appeared, when you first noticed it and whether it has changed. Photographs, previous surveys and information about earlier repairs can help us understand the circumstances.

Our consultation and assessment service provides an opportunity to discuss the property and arrange a free site visit. We can then explain whether further investigation is needed before a foundation repair specification can be prepared.

Reasons to Trust ASRS

Free Site Visits

We offer free site visits to assess structural concerns and discuss an appropriate repair programme for domestic and professional clients.

Helifix Approved

Our approved installer status supports the use of established Helifix systems for suitable masonry reinforcement and structural repair projects.

Skilled Installation Teams

Our trained teams install the specified repair systems with attention to workmanship, site safety and the requirements of the property.

Guarantees Where Applicable

A 10-year indemnified guarantee is available for most specified Helifix repairs and micro piling projects, subject to the applicable terms.

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Our Approach to Foundation Repairs and Underpinning

Foundation repairs begin with understanding why support has been lost or why different parts of the building are moving unevenly. We assess the visible defects and consider whether soil investigations, drainage checks, foundation exposure or information from a structural engineer are needed to establish the repair requirements.

Where underpinning is appropriate, piling systems can provide additional support by transferring loads to suitable ground at a designed depth. ASRS’s foundation systems include screw-down micro piles, augered bored piles and steel-cased driven piles. The choice depends on ground conditions, structural loads and the space available for installation.

Our design and repair programmes can include drawings, method statements and calculations where required. We also consider repairs to damaged masonry and associated elements. Where concrete has deteriorated, our local concrete repairs service may form part of the wider works. This creates a coordinated specification for the affected building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Possible signs include stepped cracks in masonry, distorted door or window openings, uneven floors and separation between an extension and the original building. Changes over time are particularly useful to record, as a crack that is widening may require a different response from an old, stable defect. These symptoms can also have causes elsewhere in the structure, so an inspection is needed before deciding that the foundations require repair. ASRS assesses the affected areas and considers the building’s construction and history. We can also discuss wider structural repairs where the problem involves masonry, restraint or other building components.

No. The appropriate response depends on the cause of the movement, whether it is continuing and the condition of the building. Some properties may need attention to defective drainage or another contributing factor, while others require monitoring before a repair decision can be made. Where the foundations remain adequate, a specified masonry reinforcement programme may address the structural damage. Underpinning is considered where the assessment and supporting investigations show that additional foundation support is necessary. ASRS explains the findings and proposed approach so you understand why a particular solution has been selected. We assess the property before recommending substantial foundation works.

ASRS provides several piling options that can be used within a designed foundation stabilisation or underpinning programme. These include screw-down micro piles, augered bored piles and steel-cased driven piles. Their suitability depends on the ground beneath the property, the loads requiring support and the access available for equipment. A repair specification also needs to establish how the additional support connects with the existing structure. Where movement has damaged the walls above, masonry reinforcement or other structural repairs may be included. We select the combination of methods around the investigation findings and the building’s requirements, rather than applying one foundation system to every project.

Foundation repair costs depend on the extent of the affected area, the cause of movement and the support required. Ground investigation findings, pile depth, access restrictions and the condition of the existing foundations can all influence the specification. The cost may also include associated masonry repairs and making good after installation. An isolated problem beneath a bay or extension will have different requirements from movement affecting several elevations. ASRS offers free site visits to discuss the visible issues and next steps. Where specialist investigations or additional professional input are needed, these requirements should be established before a detailed repair quotation is finalised.

This depends on the condition of the building and the nature of the specified works. Some foundation stabilisation projects can be carried out largely from outside, which may help reduce disruption to occupied rooms. Other projects require internal access, excavation or temporary restrictions around the affected part of the property. Access routes, services and the use of adjoining rooms also need consideration. ASRS discusses these matters when planning the repair programme and explains the arrangements relevant to your building. Whether occupation can continue safely must be assessed for the particular project, so this should be agreed before installation work begins.

ASRS provides foundation repairs across Devon, including Torquay, the wider Torbay area, Newton Abbot, Barnstaple and Tiverton. Our coverage includes domestic and commercial properties, with each enquiry assessed around its location, structural condition and repair requirements. You can also explore our existing subsidence repair pages for Torquay, Torbay, Newton Abbot, Barnstaple and Tiverton. These explain related structural movement concerns in the locations we serve. If your property is in a surrounding village or rural setting, tell us the address and describe the damage so we can discuss the appropriate next step.