Beautiful Basements was awarded the contract to build a new basement using a ring beam & underpin methodology.
On a very confined site, temporary works as part of permanent retaining walls was required to prevent damage to neighbouring properties. The outline of the basement is less than a meter from both neighbouring properties.
The ring beam & underpin method ensured the excavation never collapsed on the crew and causing damage to the neighbouring properties.
With two large properties within metres of the build, the primary challenge was to ensure that there was no danger of subsidence. This was overcome with the installation of 3 ground beams, spanning from side to side 4.1m below the ground level, supported by steel beams set at a 45-degree angle.
A further challenge was the very high and very active ground water on the site. All excavations required shoring and propping, even in the very short time between excavation and casting. The site was constantly de-watered by 5 automatic pumps to reduce the effect of the water on the build and the crew.
To avoid collapse a 1250mm ring beam was excavated, reinforced and cast in concrete between temporary shutters prior to the main excavation. Three deep ground beams were then cast in place to support the buildings either side.
Once the buildings were secure the rest of the excavation could take place and the ring beam underpinned to formation level below
Finally, the floor was cleared away, reinforced and cast to give one homogenous structure ready for a superstructure to be built on top.
The basement has been waterproofed with two systems to conform with latest insurance and British Standards guidelines:
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| Location: | Oadby, Leicestershire |
| Surface Area: | 350 square metres |
| Completed: | 2019 |
