In today’s Party Wall Surveying blog post topic, we are going to be discussing Party Wall Damage and how it can be avoided through careful contractor technique during the course of undertaking the construction works.
So, let’s kick this off by taking a look at what it actually means to “shutter the trench”. The term basically refers to the process of supporting the trench whilst it is awaiting concrete to fill it. You can usually accomplish this with careful management of the worksite. A contractor can usually time the process of excavating a trench to line up nicely with the mixing and delivery of concrete.
Generally speaking, you’ll need to use shuttering as a method of preventing party wall damage when the excavations you’re doing are next to the structure or party wall. It means that you’re not compromising the overall structural integrity of the wall, because this can be a massive issue if something goes wrong. Remember, if you damage the wall, you might be liable for the full costs of fixing it, and potentially even some kind of legal challenge from your neighbours.
So, how do you effectively shutter a trench? What do you need to do in order to protect the party wall from damages in the right way? Well, the objective is to support the wall, as previously mentioned.
The best way to do this is to make sure that you properly recruit a structural engineer to offer their input. Unfortunately, it is often more than just a case of putting two sheets of MDF up against the trench and supporting them with a 2×4. That just won’t do.
When in doubt, consult with a professional. They’ll be able to help you work out exactly what you need to do to give yourself the best possible chance at shuttering the trench effectively. Remember, you can’t afford to get this wrong, so you need to make sure you do it properly.
So when it comes to properly shuttering a trench, you need to make sure that you do whatever you can to protect yourself and the party wall from harm. Your neighbour would be well within their rights to protest and make you pay for damages if your negligence during the construction process results in a problem. A good structural engineer will be able to design an effective shuttering process, so you need to check out what they’re offering.
If you’d like to discuss your Party Wall Surveying requirements with our team of qualified and experienced Party Wall Surveyors give us a call today and we will be more than happy to assist and advise.
