Quote:
Originally Posted by kool-ski
Worst case scenario, hypothetically speaking, if this underpinning is not done, what potential disaster/damages would happen?
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The wood is part of the shoring system that keeps the dirt from caving in on the excavation. Without that, the bearing pressure of the soil adjacent to the hole would cause a landslide. When there is a building next door to the pit, you shouldn't need it if that building is modern and sitting on steel and concrete foundation- but on old rowhouses there are sometimes issues with adjacent construction- likely due to old houses sitting on rubble foundations that are susceptible to deterioration over time due to water or vibration- which is how you end up with old home collapsing next to new construction at times without proper temporary shoring measures taken. The steel beams are the vertical anchors for the lagging that runs horizonatally. Even when doing utility work this becomes necessary once you get below a certain depth. Often they drop in a steel box that can be lifted out once the repair is done.
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