The cost to underpin a house in Melbourne is between $5,000 to $40,000. The total cost is affected by the extent of damage, size of the property, technique of underpinning, and accessibility. Larger projects which involve a significant amount of underpinning can cost up to $80,000.
In this post, we’ll explain in detail the factors that affect the cost of underpinning a home in Melbourne and compare it with other foundation repair methods.
What Affects the Cost of Underpinning
The cost of underpinning is affected by the following factors:
Extent of Damage
The extent of damage significantly affects underpinning costs. Small cracks or minor settling will cost less to fix than major structural failures.
The more extensive the damage, the more complex and costly the repair will be.
Size of the Property
Larger properties generally face higher underpinning costs. This is because they have more area that may require stabilisation.
The overall design and complexity of the property also play a role, as intricate structures might need more detailed work.
Accessibility
The ease of access to your property’s foundation is a key cost factor. If it’s hard to reach the areas needing work, special equipment or extra labour might be needed, increasing the cost.
Properties with straightforward access to the foundation area usually have lower underpinning costs.
Technique of Underpinning
Various underpinning methods exist, each with different costs. Traditional mass concrete methods might be less expensive but less suitable for certain soil types or issues.
More advanced techniques like resin injection or mini-piled underpinning, while potentially more effective, will generally be costlier.
Cost of Other Foundation Repair Methods
The cost of underpinning is different compared to other foundation repair methods. Let’s take a closer look below:
- Foundation levelling: For minor repairs, the cost of foundation levelling can start at around $500. However, for more structural repairs, the cost can begin at $3,000 and increase depending on the complexity and scope of the work required.
- Concrete slab replacement: The average cost of concrete slab replacement in Australia is approximately $93 per square metre. This estimate is based on various types of concrete slabs, including plain, reinforced, coloured, and decorative options.
As you can see, the cost of other foundation repair methods differs greatly compared to underpinning. The wide range in prices between foundation repair methods underscores the importance of getting a professional assessment of the foundation issue.
Foundation repair experts can also suggest whether you need underpinning, foundation levelling, or concrete slab replacement. You can learn more about what is underpinning by reading our blog today.
Conclusion
In this blog, we’ve discussed how the extent of damage, size of the property, technique of underpinning, and accessibility affect the cost of underpinning. The average cost to underpin a house is from $5,000 to $40,000, while larger projects can go as high as $80,000.
Remember that the total cost will still depend on the abovementioned factors.