1.7 Re-Piering

Jamming doors, cracking plaster walls and uneven, squeaking floors are all signs that house stumps are failing or settling. This may be caused by settling foundations, crumbling brick piers or rotting timber stumps.

• To replace piers it needs to be decided if the existing concrete footings can be reused, or whether new piers will be installed between the existing piers.
• In some cases additional piers are required to support the existing bearers, these can be installed in two ways:
  1. New pad footings. Dig a hole where the new pier is to be located to the required dimensions, fill with concrete and trowel level. Once concrete has set, the new pier can be dynabolted into the new pad footing.
  2. Concreted into the footing - this is particularly useful with higher piers, where some bracing effect is required. In this case, dig the hole, and then suspend the new pier from the bearer into the hole. Fill with concrete.

There are a range of fittings available to suit both timber and GAL140TM bearers.

Tools Required:

• Spirit level
• Trowel
• Wheelbarrow & shovel for mixing concrete (or concrete mixer)
• Shovel/spade for digging pier holes
• Electric drill/Tek screw gun for installing GAL140TM Piers
• GAL140TM adjustable pier tops
• Base plates (if required)
• GAL140TM RHS piers

Note: In some cases engineering certification and council approval will be required, depending on the extent of the work to be done, and the house design. Check with the local council before proceeding.