Remove the stress by repairing your home

This will be relevant to many Cantabrians who are still working through earthquake related repairs more than a decade later. Josh Townsend, Business Development Manager at Mainmark New Zealand, has seen an influx of these enquiries lately. “Many people don’t know they have experienced subsidence [from liquefaction] until the house is up for sale,” he says. “This can cause delays during the already stressful situation of selling a property.”

Subsidence issues can also happen in other parts of the country. “There is a common misconception that subsidence is only caused by earthquakes. Excessive moisture or poor design can also lead to sinking beneath your house,” says Townsend. Many residential areas in New Zealand are built on low lying flood plains, so most homeowners would benefit from being proactive and looking out for signs of subsidence.

What to look for

Homeowners may find cracks in their walls, windows jamming, or doors that won’t close properly because of settlement. While a small crack might not cause concern, anything longer than five millimetres could indicate that the house is moving more than it should.

Repair work, especially traditional underpinning, has had a reputation for being loud, messy, lengthy, and disruptive to both the property and everyday life. After all the disruptions in recent years, it’s understandable that jobs like foundation repair or house levelling get put in the too-hard basket. 

However, a chat with an expert can usually give you the confidence to finally get the job done. You might also learn about technology and innovations that will make the project easier than expected.

How we can help

The team at Mainmark has raised, re-levelled and re-supported homes, buildings and structures for over 25 years. Our technologies and qualified technicians ensure minimal disruption and prevent further damage while re-levelling your home in a quick and timely manner. 

Unlike other systems that require the use of jacks and heavy machinery dragged through the property, Mainmark’s Teretek resin injection solution and JOG Computer-Controlled Grouting methods are non-invasive. There’s usually no need for homeowners to move out while work is completed, and many projects only take a day or two.

The Teretek process will re-level your building and subsequently improve the ground immediately underneath without excavating large holes around the perimeter (as with underpinning) or through the floor in the process. Instead, handheld drills are used to create small holes through the footings and floor slab which the Mainmark team can inject a resin into. This resin expands once injected into the soil beneath, gently and slowly bringing the building back up to level millimetre by millimetre.

Larger homes and commercial buildings benefit from the use of the JOG Computer-Controlled Grouting solution which re-levels and strengthens ground beneath large structures using computer-controlled cement grout injection. It is an extremely precise way of consolidating weak ground and lifting foundations, again without major excavation.

Townsend says the team at Mainmark understands the pressure homeowners face come resale time: “You should get the best value for your biggest asset.”

He recognises that these issues can often also extend beyond your home: “We have completed many jobs outside of just traditional buildings — including relevelling and supporting driveways, pathways, patios and pools.”

Even though it can seem overwhelming, repairing rather than rebuilding your home is possible with the right expertise, and at a fraction of the cost. Best of all, the process doesn’t need to be stressful and there’s no need to put your life on hold while work is carried out. It starts with an onsite inspection and finishes with the satisfaction of knowing you can tick something else off your to-do list – and the peace of mind when it’s time to sell. 

Call 0800 873 835 or complete an enquiry form below to book a site inspection with one of our technical managers.