Subsidence expert Mainmark UK, is expanding its operations across the Republic of Ireland to address the country’s growing risk of subsidence.
The Emerald Isle’s diverse geology makes it more vulnerable to a broader range of substructural risks, such as flood-driven issues, settlement and void formation compared to the UK, where subsidence is largely driven by clay shrinkage and swelling.
This makes subsidence cases in Ireland less predictable and potentially more severe in localised areas.
Since 2016, Mainmark UK, part of the Mainmark group of companies (which also operates in Australia, New Zealand, Japan), has been providing services that stabilise and strengthen structures across the British Isles for property owners and infrastructure managers.
Whilst the risk of subsidence in Ireland is extremely high, awareness is lacking. Mainmark is investing in a new Irish operation to support homeowners and businesses in the country in addressing the issue.
Mainmark has spent the last six months looking for a suitable site near Naas, Co. Kildare, for its new depot, enabling the firm to bring its global expertise to a local market. Being a short distance from Dublin – a subsidence hotspot for Ireland – Mainmark will deliver faster, front-line solutions to subsidence issues (where the ground beneath a structure sinks), which are growing in frequency across the country.
This will be Mainmark’s fourth location outside of New Zealand and Australia, but first in the Republic of Ireland. In the months ahead, the firm will be seeking to appoint a Country Manager to lead its Irish operations.
Tom Kavanagh, General Manager at Mainmark UK, comments: “Over the last few years, we’ve seen an uptick in business enquiries coming from the Republic of Ireland, particularly around the City of Cork, Co. Dublin, and Meath. Here, subsidence and sub-structural movement are substantial issues due to foundations being made up of compressible, clay-rich soils and sediment.
“Ireland’s varied geology also puts it at a higher risk of sinkholes in limestone-heavy areas, erosion and washout in flood-prone lowlands and coastal zones, and its granite and sandstone uplands can experience landslides and ground slips in prolonged weather.
“Given that Met Éireann has reported the provisional warmest summer on record for Ireland, we predict that damage to properties and critical infrastructure because of subsidence will worsen, particularly around Ireland’s most densely populated areas.
“Despite the high local risk across parts of Ireland, we’ve identified a gap in knowledge across the country, with many property owners remaining unaware of the risk below their feet.
“Our expansion into Ireland marks a tremendously important milestone for Mainmark as a business. Having a local presence will allow us to better provide guidance and solutions for residents and asset owners and build our presence within the market.”
Mainmark Ground Engineering (UK) Ltd specialises in subsidence repair and ground engineering solutions, providing services that stabilise & strengthen structures across the entire globe. With a focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, Mainmark is a trusted partner in ground engineering projects for both residential and commercial properties.