Ready to hire?

Post your job in minutes, browse real reviews and choose who to speak to.Post a job

Need some tips or advice?

Extensions

foundation of new kitchen extension

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 2.59 PM

I am planning to have a small kitchen extension of my semi-detached house (1932). When the hole has been dug (1m) it will be filled with cement. However, a foreign civil engineer told me that a connection has to be made between the old & new foundation. If not, cracks will appear ultinately. What material has the builder use to connect the two ? Thanking you for your advice. Ms H. van Kerkoerle, London

Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?

2 Answers

Anonymous user

Steel reinforced rods. drilled and installed into existing footings to make connection to new concrete installation of new footings. easiest way to do that. At the end of the day if the new brickwork is keyed into existing, whether stitched or in form of profiles then that should eradicate any settlement cracks. Plus it all depends on the existing soil conditions. Play it safe and get a structural engineer in for a small fee in comparison to the build cost.

Answered16 May 2013

R.Hughes Building and Conservation Ltd

Rating: 5 out of 5

Wellingborough

Hi. It is not normal practise to connect new footings to existing. Building control very rarely insist on it. But as NLC have said, the brickwork has to be tied in via toothing or furfix wall starters. If your foundation is a raft its a different story, they need to be connected to the existing house raft/footings. Rick

Answered17 May 2013