Client Overview

 

Name: Cheshire Services Ltd
Industry: Landscaping, grounds maintenance and environmental improvements
Managing Director: Phil Lunn
Established: 2004
Check them out: cheshireservicesltd.com

Cheshire Services Ltd is a family-run business with over 30 years of experience in landscaping, grounds maintenance and environmental improvements through design and build. They pride themselves on being recognised as a leading company offering a high standard of service throughout the North West of England.

Subsidence Problem

In this instance, Cheshire Services’ Managing Director Phil Lunn contacted us to request advice regarding subsidence affecting the gable wall of a property in Dukinfield, North Manchester, owned and managed by their client Jigsaw Homes Tameside (formerly New Charter Homes), who own and manage around 16,500 homes in Tameside.

A diagram demonstrating subsidence

After initial contact, our Technical Advisor Jonathan arranged to meet Phil at the property the next day, and upon inspection, he requested Phil dig a trial hole and excavate until they could clearly see the depth and thickness of the existing foundation.

Knuckle Pile Underpinning Solution

Once the trial hole had been excavated, it revealed an inadequate existing foundation was causing the subsidence, and Phil and Jonathan agreed that knuckle pile underpinning in a ‘pile one/miss one sequence’ would be the most appropriate and least invasive solution.

What is Knuckle Pile Underpinning?

Knuckle pile underpinning employs a cantilever principle and can be installed completely externally where access and boundaries permit; contrary to needle pile underpinning which requires access both externally and internally, requiring floors to be taken up and floor joists removed, which could ultimately leave the homeowner having to vacate the property, redecorate and replace carpets. To ensure maximum load capacity and efficiency, knuckle piles are installed as close as possible to the wall that requires underpinning.

How We Did It

First, we drove the piles and cut them to height. We then undermined the inadequate existing foundation and inserted the knuckle pile cages. These are specially designed cages with a more substantial rebar structure than a standard cage and include an additional down bar in the shape of a shepherd’s crook to strengthen the wall casing further.

We then shuttered the cages and concreted them using our regular supplier RBS Concrete, with the shuttering being removed later. Phil’s team then backfilled the entire trench, made the ground good, and reinstated footpaths and grassed areas to leave no trace of the works.

With our knuckle piles in place, Jigsaw Homes Tameside and the occupant can now sleep soundly knowing there won’t be any further subsidence!

This project was in Manchester, but we serve much further afield! Use the contact details below to discuss your piling project, and remember if you want it done right: ring the Rhino! 🦏

Tel: 0161 706 0365
Email: enquiries@rhinopiling.co.uk