County Laois · checked 29 October 2026
Underpinning in County Laois
Laois has the highest share of homes built between 1991 and 2010 of the 14 counties on this site, and a mix of mountain, cut-over bog and river ground.
Facts on this page checked against each source on 29 October 2026. Each one links to its source. How we check
In Census 2022, 23.0% of the 31,112 households in County Laois lived in homes built before 1971, against 28.5% nationally, and 9.1% in homes built before 1919 (CSO).
Underpinning here works the way it does everywhere: a chartered structural engineer first, then the cause, then the design. This page adds what is particular to County Laois: the age of its houses, its ground, and the schemes that apply.
The age of the housing in County Laois
| Area | Households | Pre-1919 | Pre-1971 | Pre-1991 | 1991 to 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Laois | 31,112 | 9.1% | 23.0% | 41.0% | 48.7% |
| Ireland | 1,836,728 | 8.4% | 28.5% | 50.8% | 39.1% |
Source: CSO Census 2022, table SAP2022T6T2CTY, permanent private households by year built. Shares are of all households, including those whose year built wasn't stated.
Why age matters: civil engineer Kieran McCarthy says most Irish suburbs built in the early 1970s or before will likely have clay drains, and that leaking drains cause most of the subsidence he sees (Irish Examiner, 2021). And the national Building Regulations, including requirement A2 that foundations cope with ground movement, apply to buildings from 1 June 1992 on (TGD A). In County Laois, 41.0% of households live in homes built before 1991.
Ground conditions in County Laois
- East of the Slieve Bloom Mountains the land is wetter limestone glacial drift with basin peat, much of it cut-over or milled (Farmers Journal soil survey of Co. Laois).
- East of Portlaoise and Abbeyleix the ground is a limestone glacial drift plateau with luvisols. Alluvial soils, formed in river and lake deposits, are widespread (Farmers Journal).
- The Slieve Blooms are sandstone and shale, with peat on the high ground (Farmers Journal).
These notes describe the county's soils and geology in general. They are background for a conversation with an engineer, never a verdict on one house.
Pyrite and defective blocks in County Laois
County Laois isn't one of the Pyrite Remediation Scheme areas as published in 2020 (C&AG; gov.ie). If your house has cracked floors from below, or blocks that are crumbling, read about the difference first.
See pyrite and defective blocks.
Getting a house in County Laois looked at
- Record the cracks.Dated photos, inside and out, with a ruler in the shot. Don't fill them yet.
- Get a chartered structural engineer.The engineer grades the cracks, finds the cause and decides whether underpinning is needed at all. Engineers Ireland awards the CEng MIEI title (Engineers Ireland).
- Check the drains.A CCTV drain survey shows whether old drains are leaking, the usual cause.
- Tell your insurer if you're claiming.As soon as reasonably possible. See the insurance guide.
- Get the design priced.Send your details and one experienced groundworks and underpinning contractor who covers your county rings you to talk it through.
The full order of work is on the underpinning process page, and the methods on underpinning methods.
Nearby counties
County Offaly · County Kildare · County Carlow · County Kilkenny · All county pages
Questions people ask
How old are Laois homes?
In Census 2022, 48.7% of Laois households lived in homes built between 1991 and 2010, the highest share of the 14 counties on this site. 23.0% lived in homes built before 1971.
Are newer houses safe from subsidence?
Nobody can say that about a house without looking at it. Newer homes were built under the Building Regulations, which require foundations designed for ground movement, but drains, made ground and nearby works can still cause problems.
Who will ring me?
We pass your request to one experienced groundworks and underpinning contractor who covers your county. Your number isn't sent to a list. They ring you, ask what's happening and about any engineer's report, and price the work from the engineer's design. Nothing is booked until you say yes.
Cracks in a house in County Laois?
Five quick questions and one experienced groundworks and underpinning contractor who covers your county rings you. Or call 087 162 1846 between 8am and 8pm.