Earthquake Damage Repair

The Role of Uretek in Earthquake Damage Repair

In New Zealand the Government-issued Guidelines for building repair in Christchurch specifically cite the method patented and used exclusively by Uretek as suitable for re-levelling and re-supporting Christchurch's earthquake-damaged buildings.

The patented URETEK Method was appraised by BRANZ, the Building Research Association of New Zealand. Appraisal No. 698.

When earthquakes strike, many houses sink or partially sink down into the ground. Cracks appear in walls, doors and windows jam and cease to work properly.

While the Uretek company is not in the business of reconstruction, it can provide a very good correction procedure for footings and foundations, even when the damage is quite severe. In many cases such footing correction will correct other problems, such as bringing cracked walls back together and re-aligning doors, windows, skirting boards etc.

Many consulting engineers and builders are familiar with Uretek capabilities and can advise building owners on a particular situation. Of course, Uretek Project Managers will assess Uretek applicability for you.

The Uretek Metrhod of Earthquake Damage Repair

In many cases of earthquake damage Uretek does offer the best solution. Uretek structural resin injection into the foundation ground beneath the building can usually achieve several aims:

• Uretek lifts the building back to level at its original height.
• When that is done usually wall cracks close up – cracks in interior plasterboard or rendered brickwork, and also cracks in exterior brickwork.
• Generally upon re-levelling, windows and doors are able to fit and work properly again…
• And gaps between skirting boards and floors also tend to close right back up.
• In many conditions, Uretek Deep-Injection can also be used to compact the foundation soil. The bearing capacity of the ground has been increased by up to 500% in some cases! Where applicable this greatly reduces the potential for future severe movement.

Uretek's History of Earthquake Damage Repair

Uretek has been well proven in dealing with earthquake and tremor-damaged buildings in many countries. Since The Uretek Method was invented and patented 30 years ago Uretek has gained a great deal of experience, most notably in Japan, Italy, Turkey and other middle -Easterrn earthquake-prone countries.

Another specifically reassuring factor is that Uretek Ground Engineering (NZ) limited is a New Zealand company (NZ Co. number 2186481).

Uretek has been working in New Zealand for the last ten years (since February 2001) and our South Island Manager, Phil Johnston is and has been a long-term resident of Christchurch.

For further information and examples of Uretek Earthquake damage repair in Christchurch see "Underpinning Christchurch".

Revolutionary product restores earthquake-damaged home in three days.

And Christchurch City Council letter advising on the suitability of Uretek rectification of earthquake damaged buildings.

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