XTREME REBUILD

Xtreme Rebuilds

Our Skills Include...

Underpinning

Underpinning is the restrengthening of footings under brick walls to ensure that strip footings are stabilised.

Concrete Slab Foundation Repair (Underpinning) is the process of installing drilled, solid concrete pillars below the foundation of the failed foundation. Once the concrete pillars have cured, the home can then be leveled to an independent engineers’ specifications. Brick clad houses and homes on concrete floors are our specialty.

Tell-tale signs that Underpinning is needed:

    • There are cracks over 3mm in the brick wall
    • Walls have moved
    • Weather related issues
    • Door or windows sticking or moving seasonally
    • Cracks getting worse each year

What to consider when choosing a contractor

    • That the contractor has years of genuine experience in the trade. This is important for resale and house insurance 
    • That the contractor can provide references – both recent, and if possible from a few years back – this way you will know they have been in the trade for a while.
    • That on completion the floors are close to being level – say within 10mm.
    • That a building permit will be obtained, where necessary, and that work will be in accordance with the relevant building regulations.
    • That if floorboards must be removed, to what condition the floor will be reinstated and whose responsibility it is to remove and replace floor coverings.
    • That the contractor has public liability insurance and a suitable level of cover.

When comparing quotations from several contractors, ensure they all include the same items. The lowest price may be indicative of a lesser number of piles, substandard fittings or other shortcuts that may spell disaster in the long term. 

Are you buying an older home?

In older homes, especially those that are ‘original’, it may be easy to see whether they need the foundations replaced. But if the home has already been renovated, our hearts can take over and don’t allow us to see what’s under our feet.

In recent years New Zealand has experienced a property boom. Many people have gone out and purchased run down properties, renovated them and put them straight back on the market. If they had scruples, they would have made sure the foundations were sound before commencing the do-up. But some houses have been renovated for a quick buck, and although it may look lovely, if foundations have not been checked and dealt with appropriately before the renovation you could be up for huge expense in the not too distant future.

If you are looking at purchasing a home, take a look underneath yourself, and if you have any doubt about the foundations, give us a call. We can provide an on the spot assessment and quote.

Repiling

Repiling is the replacement of rotted and defective piles which cause structural damage to your home. Repiling may entail re-levelling of floor areas and could involve the replacement of subfloor timber and floorboards.

 What are the tell tale signs that a house needs repiling?

    • Doors and windows are not closing properly or are out of alignment.
    • Floors are off-level. They often slope away from brick fireplaces.
    • Cracks are appearing in the plaster. These may get worse over time.
    • Floors are ‘bouncy’ while walking through the house. Items on shelves may shake or rattle when walking past.
    • The piles are not touching the house in areas.
    • Concrete piles are showing cracks or signs of wear.
    • Piles may move or wobble when shaken without too much effort or strength.
    • The piles are very old untreated timber. They may have turned to compost below ground level.
    • You are planning renovations to your home.

What should I do before getting my house repiled?

Apart from choosing your contractor – nothing.

    • Do NOT renovate. This includes tiling, plasterwork, painting, wallpapering, new carpet or Vinyl, kitchen or bathroom fittings.
    • Do NOT build extensions or decks connected to the house.
    • DO NOT put in new gardens or lawn close to the house.
    • DO NOT have major plumbing work done or install air-conditioners.

What is Repiling Foundation Repair?

Sometimes called “crawl space” foundation repair is the process of installing new foundation piles where concrete blocks and wooden piles have failed. This allows us to replace foundations without you having to move out.

What is Field Drainage?

Field Drain Installation is a method used to rid foundation soil of excess water during times of extreme rain in areas of a property that does not have proper drainage. These areas are usually easy to determine after large volumes of rain where water does not naturally flow away or absorb.

Performing any of the above can be a waste of money as it could all be undone when you have the house releveled. All too often we have been called out to repile a house where a new extension has already been built or a new kitchen installed. Yes, we can repile these houses, but we may not be able to level them and damage may occur.

So remember, if your house needs repiling or underpinning it should be the FIRST step in your renovation. We cannot stress this enough.

Underfloor Insulation

It’s important to choose the right insulation for your needs. Talk to the crew at Xtreme Rebuilds today and for advice you on the right insulation for your needs.

Earthwool

Earthwool glasswool: Quilted underfloor batt, R-1.5 provides high thermal performance to create a comfortable environment in your home. Earthwool glasswool underfloor batt insulation is completely wrapped in film which acts as a wind-wash barrier to provide protection from air movement under the floor. Adding to the already easy to handle and install qualities of Earthwool glasswool, the insulation is completely wrapped in film and can be stapled in place. It is made using up to 80% recycled glass and with ECOSE Technology, a sustainable, bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde. As well as providing a great result, this product is extremely durable and comes with a 50-year warranty, so will stand the test of time.

    • Wind wash barrier for high thermal performance
    • No added formaldehyde

Expol

Expol is a pre-cut polystyrene foam board that fits easily between existing floor joists. Each Expol panel is shaped to create an air gap which provides added insulation and minimises mould growth. Expol is non-allergenic and contains no CFCs. It contains a flame retardant and its thermal properties stay constant over time.

Expol comes in panels 1.2 metres long and 55mm thick, with a variety of widths to fit standard New Zealand joist spacing without modification. Panels can be removed as necessary to access electrical wiring. Most installs fit snugly between joists and support themselves, but for unusual spaces we use non-corrosive nylon fixings and stainless steel nails.

Expol is fully compliant with the New Zealand Building Code, and comes with a 50 year warranty.

 

Greenstuf ®

Autex’s GreenStuf® thermal and acoustic home insulation products are made from durable, environmentally-friendly 100% polyester. Highly resistant to fire and moisture damage, they’re designed to keep your home warm, quiet, healthy and energy-efficient for a lifetime. 

GreenStuf Underfloor is designed to provide thermal insulation under exposed joist floors of new and existing timber-framed buildings. GreenStuf Underfloor reduces heat loss through floors and assists in reducing drafts through joins in the floor structure. It comes as rolls pre-cut to fit standard exposed timber joist floors and is easily installed by stapling into place between the joists.

House Lifting

Perhaps you are happy with where your house is located, but wish you could enjoy more of the view. How about lifting your house up higher? Make use of our extensive experience and lift your house to add another floor, or basement or garage.
In flood prone areas we can raise your home to comply with insurance and EQC requirements.
How about lifting your house and adding a flat for extra income? Or making a place for Mum to live? Talk to us today to discuss your needs. 

We are good at what we do will work hard to find the right solution for you.

Hydraulic Lifting

Our company invests in the most hi-tech hydraulic jack systems available which allows us to lift your building 100mm to 3000mm with minimal damage. This is best suited for homes with no access under floors or for those wanting extra rooms underneath their home.

We can lift 100 ton to a height of 1800mm in one lift. This system is mainly used for raising buildings for machinery access or transporting.

For the more detailed jobs we can lift 10,000 ton capacity with accuracy of up to ± 0.25mm. This system is used for leveling concrete floor buildings, railways, bridges, subways, shipbuilding, and other heavy construction industries.

With a continuously adjustable flow pump, the speed of the lifting can be precisely controlled, coupled with a high precision electronic control device and a displacement pressure detection system, means the simultaneous lifting, synchronized landing, heavy weight measurement and other functions can be undertaken. The computer-controlled lifting system can synchronously control many lifting points.

Teardown or new construction?

Renovating your home could be just the thing you need to make it truly yours. But be careful. This decision could lead you down a never-ending (and stealthily expensive) home improvement rabbit hole. Once you’ve remodeled your kitchen from old to new, for example, your family room now seems out of place, the living room looks dated, and so on. In many cases, tearing down an old home is more affordable, with or without an addition. But not always. It really depends on the home, your location, and your situation. Here are five factors to consider when weighing your options, plus advice on how to make this costly financial decision.

1. Do you like the character features of an old home?

Solid-core doors, marble window sills, crown molding, pocket doors, arched doorways — who could get rid of these features? Some older houses are made with higher-quality wood and have finishing touches that you can’t replicate today. If you want to keep your home’s original details, you’ll probably want to renovate.

2. Is your home structurally sound?

A home with rotting or poor foundations is a serious issue. But how can you tell? Your walls, when looked at from the outside, should be straight. There should be no water in your basement or crawl space, no cracks on your interior walls, and your windows should open and close easily. A structural engineer can be a big asset in helping you decide. Since New Zealand is prone to earthquakes, having the home’s foundations checked becomes even more important. In some cases, a home that was designed and built prior to new earthquake laws can have significant structural damage after an earthquake occurs.

3. Finally, how much money do you want to spend?

First step is to work out your budget in order to determine which path to take. The trick is getting the numbers right. Once you start renovating and ripping things apart, you might discover some unwelcome surprises. Anyone who has ever done an expansive renovation project will tell you that the final cost is always higher than anticipated,There are always unexpected costs such as excavating surprises, unseen rot and mold, electrical issues, structural inadequacies, etc. 

So, whether to renovate or teardown and rebuild really comes down to a case-by-case decision. Call in the proper professionals for quotes to help you decide. Renovation experts, builders, structural engineers, and architects can all help you make this decision based on what you want to do, the type of home you have, its condition, and your local council rules.

Get in touch with us now!

  • admin@repile.co.nz
  • 0800 102 416

Our crews are based in following areas:

 

  • Auckland  Manakau
  • Hamilton (head office) Dinsdale
  • Wanganui Castlecliff
  • Wellington Upper Hutt
  • Christchurch  Parklands
Back to Top