51 Pigeon Drive, Yellowwood Park

Durban 4011

+27 31 452 6130
+27 64 648 7908
+27 82 772 9942

office@pinnaclesrs.co.za
doug@pinnaclesrs.co.za

Top Structural Damage and Foundation Specialists in Durban

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What our clients say about us:

PINNACLE STRUCTURAL REPAIRS UNDERPINNING & PILING SPECIALIZE IN ALL FORMS OF STRUCTURAL DAMAGES IN KWA-ZULU NATAL

Our team of underpinning and jack piling professionals offers a single-source solution. We have the experience to provide the highest quality workmanship on schedule and within budget.

Founded in 1997 as Pinnacle Industries. The company split to Pinnacle structural repair specialists and Pinnacle construction in 2018 and have grown to become one fo the leading firms in its industry. 

Pinnacle Structural Repairs Contractors in Durban

The Crack Repair Specialists of KwaZulu-Natal

Bringing the superb combination of skill, experience and knowledge to every project we undertake, Pinnacle Structural Repairs contractors in Durban has become the go-to industry leaders when a structure begins showing signs of ageing, one sign of which can include troublesome cracks.

As one of the best jack piling and underpinning contractors in Durban, we are experts in our approach. At our company, the team always tries to find the root cause of the problem. We easy handle all kinds of structural damage and our crack repairs are guaranteed to stand up to the immense task of ensuring that a structure remains in the best possible condition for years to come. We are proud to say that we have taken the initiative to design and build a mini piling rig that can get into small areas. Our technical team has over 25 years of experience in piling.

Working alongside a powerful, tremendously skilled 32 man professional team, including both geotechnical and structural engineers, we are more than capable of carefully assessing the structure and determining exactly what kind of work needs to be done, whether it is wall crack repair, jack piling, moving foundations, collapsing foundation, cracked foundations, sinking foundation correction, restoration of foundations or water under foundations. We are experts when it comes to repairing all types of problems relating to structural foundations.

 

Piling and Underpinning Foundation Services in KwaZulu-Natal

Underpinning foundations is the careful and well-thought-out process of providing extra strength to an existing foundation structure, to either prevent damage from happening or halting the damage that is already taking place and harming the structural integrity of the building.

Here is an example of a crack found while digging a pit for underpinning:

The process is considered a major repair project and one that should not be left to inexperienced companies. One small mistake can lead to a costly, not to mention dangerous, situation that will set you back. The use of the correct method, along with precise planning, is a necessity.

Problems with your foundations can have far-reaching consequences. Rather than ignoring the tell-tale wall cracks that point to foundation issues, it is best to find a solution to the issue.

When underpinning foundations, we dig and expose the foundations at the location that the pins are to be installed. We then dig approximately 1.5m below the foundation in order to install precast jack piles with steel and anchor crete. Using a specialised hydraulic jack, we jack precast jack piles down until they come to hard resistance or solid rock, welding them together along the way.

Finally, a concrete plinth is installed between the top of the precast jack piles, steel, and anchor crete and the existing foundation. The surrounding soil is then replaced and compacted.

Based upon our findings, we will give recommendations for the underpinning ie. number and location of pins.   In some cases sub-soil drainage may need to be installed and/or storm water may need to be properly managed in addition to the underpinning.  Stitching may also be recommended.

Where sub-soil drainage is required, trenches need to be dug below the foundations. Bidem cloth is installed into the trenches with agricultural pipe and 19mm blue stone around the pipe.

 

 

When would underpinning be considered a necessity?

There are a great many factors that would point to underpinning being something that you should be having a look into. And should you have any uncertainties about whether you need this service, you can always get in touch with the team at Pinnacle Structural Repairs. Some of the examples of underpinning being needed include:

  • Soil conditions changing beneath the foundation, causing instability. This is why we work with geotechnical engineers who can establish soil conditions.
  • The individual soil characteristics were not correctly taken into consideration during the initial construction phase, leading to instability and possibly wall cracks.
  • Instances where the original foundation is either no longer suitable for holding the structure up safely, or where the original foundation is no longer strong enough.
  • Work being done on neighbouring structures can also lead to issues with foundations. Work can include repairs, excavations or construction.
  • When additional floors need to be constructed underground.

Just as there is a range of reasons why you might require underpinning, there are also several different types of underpinning to be looked at. Pinnacle Structural Repairs will advise you as to which type of structural underpinning will work best for your particular situation and then give you a rundown on what will need to be done to get your foundation back into a safer condition.

Some of the more commonly used types of underpinning for foundations include piled underpinning which is often used when the soil beneath a structure becomes unstable and thus unsuitable for bearing heavy loads. This is not the only reason for using piling. This option is also fantastic for when there is not a lot of access to a construction site or when there are various environmental concerns which relate to soil extraction or the need for limited structural movement during the process of stabilising the foundation.

The options of mass concrete underpinning, geopolymer solutions and jet grouting are also used by various companies operating in this industry.

 

Wall Crack Repair

One of the most commonly seen occurrences with a displaced foundation (or a sinking foundation), is structural damage, and more specifically cracked walls. Pinnacle Structural Repairs goes beyond the underpinning of all kinds of foundations and also offers wall crack repair as a part of our exceptional services. As the top structural repair specialists in Durban, we’ve perfected the art of each of the services we provide, ensuring that our clients receive nothing but the best.

Stitching and repairs to cracked walls are the simplest and most efficient way to restore structures to their former state and eradicating any instability that might have been caused by the damage.

Of the other services we have available, we can provide our clients with:

  • Hand augering
  • Groundwater and sub-soil drainage control
  • Various types of design work
  • Geotech reports

We are a highly versatile and experienced construction group and over the years we have cemented our reputation around being more than capable of delivering exactly what we have promised. Contact Pinnacle Structural Repairs contractors in Durban to find out more about what we can do for you, or to set up a consultation.

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