The porch of the rented residential property in Bicester suffered impact damage from a vehicle collision. Shire was contacted by the landlord’s insurance company to investigate and find a solution to repair the damage.
Investigations concluded that the porch area had slid on the damp-proof membrane (DPM) that was laid under the porch at the time of construction to prevent moisture transmission.
The Challenge
Investigations concluded that the damage was caused by the impact and no other movement was occurring. The movement had only occurred in the horizontal plane. Jacking was identified as the most suitable and least intrusive option. However, as jacking is usually done vertically, a new method needed to be engineered to jack the building sideways, back into position.
Sideways Jacking in Progress
The Solution
The solution was to perform sideways jacking of the porch area. As jacking is usually done vertically, a new method was developed whereby two piles were driven into the ground to the side of the porch to support two jacks placed horizontally. A brace was then created to house the two jacks that used the piles for resistance when moving the porch construction back into position.
The repair took one day to complete and, as there was no need to demolish or vacate the property, saved around £25,000 in time and lost revenue.
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Our Other Services
Civil & Structural Engineering
Engineering Innovation is at the heart of our approach to structural engineering. Shire were formed during 1988 in the belief that many clients were dissatisfied with the traditional reactive response of some Engineers.
Shire have a vast array of in-house design skills and expertise. Our dedicated telecoms team are often driving a gold design standard in the industry for others to follow. Our commitment is to provide quality design in a proactive, forward-thinking way & quickly! Our services also include site surveying, building analysis, tower analysis and line of sight surveys.
Shire originally started the geotechnical service to provide our own engineers with information on site, while the structural surveys were being carried out. This allowed us to offer a reactive, rapid response to our clients as a ‘one-stop shop’ for Design, Investigation and Construction.
As Structural Engineers, we have worked with the Property Insurance sector since 1998. We conduct structural inspections, impact damage analysis, specialist investigations and root cause analysis. All of which is engineer-led using straightforward language. Our experienced engineers are also asked to conduct Expert Reports and Expert Witness Service for homeowners and clients alike.
Shire offer a specialist building repair service registered under the Safe Contractor Accreditation and the Contractors Health & Safety Assessments schemes. In conjunction with our inspection & investigation services, we can offer a full solution from initial cause analysis through to structural repair.
