Optera specialise in both rehydration channels and root barrier schemes for properties built on clay soils. These methods of intervention offer fast, non-disruptive ways of arresting movement earlier in the claim lifecycle, mitigating damage and reducing claim cost to the insurer as well as disruption to the homeowner.
Clay is unique in that it holds water as part of its molecular structure and water-demanding trees extract the water, reducing the volume of the soil. It is when foundations are supported by this shrinkable clay that the stability of properties can be affected. Removing the trees has for a long time been seen as the most secure approach; however, the insurance industry has historically struggled to provide a solution which satisfies all parties, for example when the tree is either owned by a third party who refuses to cooperate or is owned by a local authority. Recent legislation and case law have made the position even more onerous to resolve. Recognising this, Optera have worked with insurance suppliers to implement solutions that allow the tree to remain whilst ensuring the long-term stability of the property without the need for disruptive and intrusive underpinning.
Rehydration channels and root barriers are both significantly cheaper to install than large-scale substructure intervention schemes. They can be implemented at an early stage of a claim at minimal expense and can therefore significantly reduce the claim lifecycle. Without these two options, claims have historically experienced delays and uncertainty whilst third-party negotiations are undertaken or whilst sufficient monitoring and site investigation data is collated, all the while potentially exacerbating the damage above ground. By offering solutions which enable the vegetation to remain, Optera are not only speeding up the repair cycle, but also bringing to the industry schemes which reduce the carbon footprint and environmental impact of a project.
A root barrier is an impenetrable membrane which is placed between a tree and the affected structure. It severs existing roots and prevents new roots from going beneath the building. Historically, root barriers were not considered an effective long-term solution, primarily because the roots could go around or under the membrane, or the membrane itself would perish and fail, allowing new roots through. Traditionally, barriers were generally damp-proof membranes which, although impenetrable, were also impermeable and so potentially hindered the passage of ground water and also degraded over time.
Optera, working closely with our consultant arborist, design specially formulated barriers which are commonly positioned between the tree and the affected structure for maximum effect.
The specially formulated geotextile provides not only a physical barrier to roots but also incorporates a repellent. The roots are diverted from the barrier due to the repulsion, preventing roots from massing against it. A trench is dug, the barrier is installed and the hole is back-filled with either the dug material or, where we are particularly close to house foundations, the trench is back-filled with a lean-mix concrete to ensure there is no settlement. The severed roots will naturally die and no longer demand moisture allowing the clay to naturally rehydrate.
Solutions driven by innovation
We understand how frustration can set in on a subsidence claim when a tree is finally felled following months of negotiation only for ground recovery to take another year. This ground recovery relies on rainwater alone to rehydrate the soil following tree removal. At William Hunt Consulting we recognise this frustration and have developed a system to speed up the rehydration process taking months off the ground recovery phase.
How it works
Using our specially formulated fluid, we target desiccated clay at depth, directly below the foundations suffering from movement. Using this approach, we ensure that the most desiccated zones are treated with a constant supply of fluid providing a continual and controlled uplift for the building. Careful monitoring of the building throughout the process allows for minor adjustments to be made to the system to help keep the recovery timeframe to a minimum.
The result
With ground recovery sped up by our Accelerated Rehydration system we see tree-related subsidence claims reduced by six to nine months. In addition to this, due to our data modelling, we can provide you with a date at which the system will be decommissioned. Ultimately, the time saving and planning afforded by Accelerated Rehydration provides assurance on timeframes and the ability to program works ready for when decommissioning happens.
Please visit www.williamhuntconsulting.com for mor information.
Breaking new ground
Here at William Hunt Consulting we understand how conventional root barriers can play a pivotal role in subsidence claims by creating a separation between trees and buildings. We also understand the frustration when poor access prevents the installation of a root barrier resulting in a prolonged claim and higher costs. In order to overcome sites with poor access, William Hunt Consulting have developed the Compact Barrier. By adopting the use of portable machinery and easy-to-transport materials we are able to install a root barrier in almost any location.
How it works
Our specially adapted auger rig is capable of forming a continuous trench to the desired depth in the tightest of spaces. If required, this rig can be carried through a house and into a back garden. The trench formed is then filled with a specially formulated mix designed to prevent the growth of tree roots through the barrier.
The result
With the option to now install root barriers in locations that were previously deemed too awkward, we are confident we can help bring a swift conclusion to some of the logistically problematic subsidence claims. Furthermore, with the Compact Barrier there will be no need for protracted negotiations on tree removal or the resulting expensive and environmentally harmful underpinning schemes.
Please visit www.williamhuntconsulting.com for more information.
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Head office
Optera
The Barn
Oxburgh
Fosse Way
Stretton-on-Dunsmore
Warwickshire
CV23 9JF
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Telephone: 02476 553 776
Email: info@optera.co.uk
Fax: 0844 7746370
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