We replace failed and poorly installed concrete bases where movement, sinking or cracking has started to affect the structure above. The job starts underneath the concrete, not with simply pouring another slab over the problem.
We work around existing slabs, old partial bases and restricted garden access, carrying out the excavation and preparation properly before the replacement concrete goes in.
When an existing concrete base starts moving, cracking or sinking, the visible damage is often only part of the problem. We regularly attend jobs where an old base has been poured over unsuitable ground, compacted poorly or installed without properly dealing with what was already underneath.
In Barking gardens, we can also come across old paving, slabs, broken concrete and partial foundations from previous structures. Simply leaving those materials underneath a new base can create weak spots that eventually show themselves again.
Our approach is straightforward: establish what has failed, remove what needs removing, prepare the ground properly and install a replacement base suited to the structure going back on it.
Not every cracked base needs replacing. We look at what has actually happened before deciding how the remedial work should be handled. If the existing concrete has failed because the ground beneath it is unstable, repairing the surface alone normally does not address the cause.
Cracks that continue to open, sections that have broken away or a base that has visibly moved can indicate that the concrete is no longer providing a suitable platform for the structure. We assess the condition of the existing base and the ground beneath it before recommending replacement work.
A base that has dropped in one area will often leave the structure sitting out of level. We remove the failed material where required and rebuild the formation rather than trying to make the finished concrete compensate for a poor foundation underneath.
This is one of the common problems we come across. An old patio, loose fill, disturbed soil or previous garden construction may have been left beneath the original concrete without enough proper compaction.
Some gardens have been altered several times over the years. We can encounter an existing slab in one section, bare soil in another and remnants of an older structure somewhere else. A replacement foundation needs to deal with those differences rather than simply bridging over them.
Replacement work is often needed when an existing garden structure has been sitting on a base that was never properly prepared. We assess the intended structure and build the replacement foundation around the actual requirements rather than using a one-size-fits-all slab.
Larger garden offices and cabins can make movement particularly obvious. Doors stop closing correctly, floors become uneven and gaps can appear where the structure has moved away from the original level.
Smaller structures still need a stable platform. A shed base that has sunk at one corner can twist the structure and leave water sitting against areas that should remain properly supported.
Where an older summerhouse or garden building is being retained but its original concrete base has failed, replacing the foundation can provide a much better platform for the structure to be reinstated.
We can also deal with other residential structures where the existing concrete foundation has deteriorated or was not installed correctly in the first place. The site assessment establishes what needs to be removed and what the replacement needs to support.
This is something we pay particular attention to on replacement jobs. You can lift the visible concrete and find several different layers underneath it — old patio slabs, hardcore, loose soil and sections of previous concrete work.
Those materials do not automatically make a suitable foundation formation. If parts of the old construction are unstable, they can move independently beneath the replacement base.
We establish a suitable formation before continuing with the new base. Depending on what we find, that can mean breaking out old concrete, removing unsuitable material, excavating further and installing a properly compacted sub-base.
We do not price remedial foundation work properly from a photograph alone when the condition underneath is unknown. A site visit lets us see what has failed and, just as importantly, what caused it.
That gives us a much clearer picture of the actual job rather than guessing at the remedial work from the visible damage.
In our experience, the concrete itself is rarely the first thing to blame. More often, the problem starts underneath it.
If loose ground is left underneath, if old material is bridged over without being made stable, or if the sub-base is not properly compacted, the finished concrete can move when the ground moves.
Once a structure is installed on top, even a small amount of movement can become noticeable. Doors bind, floors go out of level, frames twist and cracks appear through the concrete.
That is why we do not cut corners on preparation. The parts of the job that nobody sees once the concrete has been poured are some of the most important parts of the installation.
Foundation movement does not always stop at a crack in the concrete. When the structure above is fixed to a base that is moving, the movement can work its way into the building itself.
If one part of the base sinks more than another, the structure can lose its original level. That can become obvious around doors, floors, walls and framing.
Cracks can continue to develop if the underlying movement remains. Filling the crack does not stop the ground from moving underneath the concrete.
A base that has changed level can also lose its intended fall. Water can start collecting against the structure instead of draining away as planned.
Once the structure is fully installed, fixing the foundation becomes more disruptive. Getting the base right while the structure can still be removed or reinstated is usually the cleaner approach.
We keep remedial foundation work organised because there is no point removing an old base only to rush the preparation underneath the replacement.
We inspect the failed base, surrounding ground, existing slabs, structure and access before deciding how the replacement should be carried out.
Failed concrete and unsuitable existing material are removed where necessary, exposing the ground that will support the new foundation.
We establish the correct levels, deal with unsuitable ground and install and compact the required sub-base.
Falls, drainage requirements and reinforcement are addressed where the replacement foundation requires them.
Concrete delivery is coordinated with the prepared site, then the replacement base is placed, levelled and finished correctly.
We check the finished levels, edges, falls and overall condition before the area is handed back ready for the structure.
If the structure is being reused, we need to understand how it will be removed and reinstated. That affects the finished dimensions, levels and timing of the replacement foundation.
Old slabs may look solid from above but can be sitting on unsuitable ground. We assess what can genuinely form part of the new construction rather than assuming everything already there is usable.
The replacement base needs to finish at the correct level and, where appropriate, have a suitable fall for water to drain away. We establish this before the concrete goes down.
Breaking out an old base creates spoil as well as requiring new materials. With narrow side access, the route for getting waste out and the replacement materials in needs to be considered from the beginning.
We arrange concrete supply around the actual pour rather than treating delivery as an afterthought. On larger replacement bases, ready-mix from a batching plant can make the installation much more efficient when the site and access allow it.
Yes. We first establish why it has sunk and whether the surrounding ground or existing materials are contributing to the movement. Where replacement is appropriate, the failed material is removed and the formation is rebuilt before new concrete is installed.
Sometimes an existing base can be retained, but we do not automatically build over it. If the old concrete is cracked, moving or sitting over unsuitable ground, covering it can leave the original problem underneath the new work.
We assess them as part of the site preparation. If they are unsuitable or likely to move, they are removed rather than being treated as a reliable foundation without checking.
Yes. Restricted access is something we plan for on residential jobs. The available route affects excavation equipment, material handling, waste removal and how the concrete is delivered.
That depends on the size, use, ground conditions and intended structure. Where reinforcement is appropriate, we incorporate it into the foundation construction rather than treating it as an unnecessary add-on.
A site inspection is the best way to establish that. We look at the movement, cracking, levels and condition of the existing concrete as well as the ground and structure above it.
If an existing concrete base has started sinking, cracking or moving, the sensible first step is to establish what is happening underneath it.
We can inspect the existing base, access, ground conditions and structure, then explain what needs to be removed and how we would approach the replacement.
No guessing from the surface and no covering up a problem that needs dealing with underneath.
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