Here at Rhino Piling, we are constantly reinforcing the importance of high-quality foundations and why homeowners should invest in their property if they notice the signs of subsidence. With this said, we have noticed some apprehension amongst clients in regards to their eligibility for home insurance. After all, these companies tend to scrutinize the foundations of a property fairly closely. Read on as we go over everything there is to know about home insurance and underpinning…
What is underpinning?
In layman’s terms, underpinning is the process of providing additional support and strength to the foundations of a property. It most circumstances, it is carried out on existing buildings as a direct result of subsidence, a problem that arises from the partial collapse of a property due to weak foundations or the movement of soil. With this said, underpinning can also be implemented for additional buildings such as garages or conservatories.
Does home insurance cover underpinning?
Many insurance companies like to implement clauses that will catch people off-guard and this means that it is important to look at the terms and conditions of a contract closely. After all, home insurance may cover underpinning costs depending on the reason why the work is required, such as in cases like subsidence. On the other hand, underpinning that is being carried out in preparation for a home extension must be paid for out of the property owners personal funds.
Will underpinning increase insurance premiums?
Insurance is put in place as an assessment of risk and this means that potential insurers often want to know if they are exposing themselves by choosing to provide cover for a particular property. It is no secret that underpinned homes are much riskier than homes that still retain their original foundation because it suggests that the property may not be structurally safe. With this said, many home insurances companies will still provide cover and the premiums should be relatively unaffected depending on the severity of the subsidence or as long as there has been no recent movement.
Underpinning is the perfect alternative to traditional piling in situations where headroom is limited and vibrations are too dangerous. After all, subsidence should never be allowed to fester once it has been discovered. To find out more information about our piling company, get in contact with the best piling Manchester has to offer and speak to a member of the Rhino Piling team today!
