Customer story · Geobear
Stabilized Foundations on Unsuitable Ground Without the Weight of Traditional Underpinning
Derrick Phillips
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Derrick Phillips reviewed Geobear after discovering structural cracks in his Shrewsbury home. Geobear stabilized the property in just one day using geopolymer foam, which avoided adding the excessive weight of traditional cement underpinning to unsuitable ground. The process required no scaffolding and caused zero disruption to the home or surrounding area.
At a glance
- Primary Use Case
- Foundation stabilization on unsuitable ground
- Reported Result
- Cracks resolved with no scaffolding or disruption
- Time to Value
- 1 day
“By underpinning with cement it would mean there'd be a lot more weight going on the house. So that's when we started to worry a little bit.”
“If you hadn't known that they had been to do the job, you would not have known they had been to do the job.”
“I would just like to thank him for doing the job proficiently and efficiently and basically putting my mind at ease.”
The interview
Can you introduce yourself and where you live?
Good afternoon, my name is Derek Phillips and I live in Shearersbury.
When did you first notice a problem with your property?
I first noticed some cracks appearing in the brickwork on the outside of the house and we thought it was movement. So we had it checked out that's when we got in touch with GeoBear.
Why were you hesitant to use traditional underpinning methods?
I have a friend who is a builder and he did say that the house could be underpinned. But due to the fact that they told me the house was built on unsuitable ground, by underpinning with cement it would mean there'd be a lot more weight going on the house. So that's when we started to worry a little bit.
How did you hear about Geobear?
We have a friend who is a surveyor who came round to look at the house, to look at the situation. I also have a builder friend who was working on a project and they had just had GeoBear fix the same sort of problems. And the surveyor said that, funnily enough, her brother had just had a similar problem and had the problem solved by GeoBear. So they were recommended by two people.
What made Geobear's solution seem like the right choice for you?
When they explained the situation that they used a foam instead of cement, so that meant there was no extra weight going on to the foundations. It just seemed simple to me, that was the solution to the problem.
How was the experience when the team arrived to do the work?
The engineer came and looked around the house and said they could solve the problem and when they actually came to do the job, it took them a day. The only problem we had to deal with was the drain situation. But GeoBear put us in touch with the drain people that they use; the drain people came, repaired the drains and then GeoBear could continue with the work.
Why would you recommend Geobear to others?
I would recommend GeoBear because of the time it takes to do. No scaffolding, no disruption in the house. No disruption around the house. And if you hadn't known that they had been to do the job, you would not have known they had been to do the job. Very neat, tidy, efficient and very good, very nice people.
Frequently asked
Will underpinning with cement damage a house built on unsuitable ground?
Derrick Phillips expressed concern that traditional cement underpinning would add too much weight to his home's already unstable ground. He chose Geobear's geopolymer foam solution specifically because it solved the structural problem without adding extra weight to the foundations.
How much disruption does Geobear foundation repair cause?
According to Derrick Phillips, the process involved no scaffolding and no disruption inside or around the house. He noted that the work was so neat and tidy that if you hadn't known they had been there, you would not have known they had been to do the job.
Can Geobear help if there are also drainage issues?
Yes, when Derrick encountered a drain situation during the project, Geobear put him in touch with their preferred drainage specialists. The drains were repaired first, allowing Geobear to continue and complete the foundation work efficiently.
Full transcript
About Geobear
Geobear is a specialist ground engineering firm that provides non-disruptive solutions for foundation settlement and subsidence. They serve homeowners and property investors by using original geopolymer technology to strengthen unstable ground and repair structural cracks without major excavation. As seen in Derrick's case, they transform properties with sinking floors or external cracks into stabilized homes in as little as one day.
- Industry
- Ground Engineering Services
Topics
- subsidence
- residential
- homeowner
- foundation repair
- geopolymer injection
- no disruption
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How this story was recorded
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