National Underpinning
Hose and gauge on a stabilisation rig with a calm operator beside a Victorian terrace, photoreal documentary.
National Underpinning

Geopolymer foam injection

Expanding geopolymer foam injected at depth to fill voids and re-level slabs and footings.

  • UK-wide coverage and local knowledge
  • 20 year remedial warranty
  • Diagnostics to remedial work

What it is

Similar in principle to resin injection, geopolymer foam is engineered for larger void filling and slab re-levelling. It is lighter than resin and can be tuned for different soil profiles. It cures in minutes.

Foam systems are particularly good at filling voids beneath concrete slabs without adding significant weight to the underlying ground. That makes them the go-to method for sunken floors, settled drives, and conservatory bases.

Density is controllable from around 40 to 200 kg/m³ depending on the application, so the engineer can pick a foam stiff enough to carry the load without overloading already-weak ground.

When it's used

Foam injection is the right tool for settled internal slabs, sunken paths and driveways tied into the building, garage floors that have dropped at one corner, and conservatory or porch bases where the slab has parted company with the perimeter foundation. It also handles ground improvement under lightly loaded structures where adding the weight of resin or concrete to already-weak ground would make things worse. Most jobs are completed in a day, with the lifted area usable within an hour of the foam reaching working strength.

Density is controllable from around 40 to 200 kg per cubic metre depending on the application, so the engineer can pick a foam stiff enough to carry the load without overloading the ground beneath. This is the key difference from resin: foam is engineered to be light. That makes it the wrong tool for stiffening the load-bearing soil beneath a wall foundation, where resin or a structural method should be specified instead. The pattern we see most often is a homeowner asking for foam after a quote for traditional underpinning has scared them; sometimes it is genuinely the right call, sometimes it is the cheapest answer to the wrong question.

How the work runs

  1. 1. Survey and grid

    Affected area mapped, target depth set, ports drilled.

  2. 2. Injection and lift

    Foam delivered in measured doses, levels checked continuously.

  3. 3. Make good

    Ports filled, finishes restored.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Excellent for slab re-levelling
  • Adds minimal weight to underlying ground
  • Quick, most jobs complete in a day
  • Can be used inside a property without major disruption
  • Cures within an hour to working strength

Cons

  • Lower compressive strength than resin or concrete
  • Not a structural repair for failing wall foundations
  • Best for slabs and shallow voids, not deep subsidence

How it compares

Every method we offer at a glance.

Method Time on site Reaches Disruption Best for
Beam and base 2 to 6 weeks Up to 4m via deeper bases High, large pits with significant excavation Variable ground, bay windows, redistributing loads
Foam injection 1 day for most jobs Treats soil and slabs to 3m Minimal, drilled ports only Slab re-levelling, void fill, conservatory bases
Mass concrete 2 to 6 weeks per elevation Up to 3m hand-dug High, open excavation and significant spoil Shallow failures on traditional ground, insurance claims
Mini piled 1 to 3 weeks on site 10–15m, sometimes more Medium, compact rigs and internal floor lifts Deep bearing layers, made-up ground, restricted access
Resin injection 1 day for most jobs Treats soil to 3–4m via ports Minimal, small ports and no spoil Granular soils, intact foundations, voids and density loss
Screw pile 2 to 5 days 5–10m typical Low, no excavation and no concrete cure Lighter loads, time-critical jobs, conservatories

Suitability

Copes well with slab re-levelling, void filling, and ground improvement under lightly loaded structures. Struggles with structural wall failures, heavy loads, and deep-seated clay shrinkage. The diagnostic question is whether the failure is in the slab or in the wall foundation. Slab problems are foam's home territory; wall foundation problems need a structural method.

Common questions

Get a free assessment

A surveyor will be in touch within 48 hours.

Get a free assessment