Teretek® Re-Levels Heritage Church Following Foundation Settlement

The heritage building was supported on brick footings founded on natural clay approximately 300 mm below ground level. With no existing gutters or formal roof drainage system, rainwater discharged directly beside the foundations.

Repeated saturation of the foundation soils contributed to localised washout and softening, reducing ground support. Over time, the resulting differential movement caused sections of the brick footings to subside, with settlement reaching approximately 43 mm in the worst-affected area.

This movement had also transferred to the building’s masonry walls, resulting in significant cracking and separation across several sections. A successful repair therefore needed to address the underlying ground conditions, recover the affected footing levels and reinstate the structural continuity of the brickwork.

All associated works were completed in-house by the Mainmark team, providing greater coordination and control throughout the repair program.

Teretek® 3000 expanding resin was injected beneath the affected brick footings at depths of up to 3 m. The injections were undertaken progressively and closely monitored to improve the supporting ground, fill subsurface voids and lift the subsided foundations while minimising stress on the existing brickwork.

Temporary lateral propping was installed to support the controlled rotation of the walls and assist in closing the cracks. Following the injection works, helical bars were installed to reconnect and strengthen the cracked masonry before the affected joints were repointed.

New guttering and drainage were also installed to direct roof water away from the building and reduce the risk of further soil over-wetting, washout and settlement.

The subsided brick footings were lifted, while the multi-depth Teretek® injections improved support within the underlying ground.

The cracked masonry was successfully reinforced, restoring structural continuity across the affected walls. New guttering and drainage now direct rainwater away from the foundations, substantially reducing the likelihood of further washout, soil softening and differential settlement.

The works preserved the existing structure while addressing both the visible building damage and the underlying cause of the foundation movement.