Inspection of foundations may be needed in a variety of cases. The most obvious options are long-term construction, which it was decided to renew, or simply old buildings, in which some reconstruction is planned in a modern way. It often happens that the customer freezes the construction that has begun for a while, because he has some problems. And then, when the time comes to re-mothball it, the reliability of the structure under construction is in doubt. Has the foundation received any deformations, invisible to the eye, that will affect the strength of the future building? Foundation surveys can answer these questions.
Old buildings are often reconstructed with a subsequent superstructure, an increase in the number of storeys. And this means an increase in the load on the foundation of the structure. To find out whether such plans can be implemented, first of all, a survey of the foundations is done. The results of such surveys may result in changes to the design, use of lighter structures and materials, orreduce the estimated number of storeys of the reconstructed building. In some cases, it is possible to strengthen existing foundations, but more often, inspection of dilapidated buildings leads to their recognition as emergency.
Inspection of structures of buildings and structures begins with a visual inspection. If the walls already have cracks visible to the eye, then experts are unlikely to be able to give a positive conclusion. This is followed by an instrumental examination. For example, with the help of georadar, it is possible to establish the presence of defects inside reinforced concrete structures without violating their integrity. Mechanical, ultrasonic, vibration and other methods are used to get a complete picture of the presence of defects and damage.
Inspection of the premises is usually done not during construction, but before the purchase and sale. In this case, it is possible to establish with a 100% guarantee what hidden defects a residential building, cottage or office building has, what mistakes were made during its construction or operation, how much it would cost to eliminate them, whether it makes sense to purchase real estate with such characteristics. Such a procedure can also answer the question "is it possible to carry out repairs or reconstruction in this room."
As a rule, the foundations are surveyed first. Then assess the technical condition of the walls and other load-bearing structures, engineering communications, as well as the roof. Violation of their integrity is often recorded in photographs. Surveys are also carried out after various emergencies, for example, after a fire, to assess whether the surviving structures will survive the restoration, how much money may be needed for this. In addition, such works should be ordered if there are doubts about the quality of the builders' work. The results of the survey and construction expertise can be used in court.
