County Meath · checked 29 October 2026
Underpinning in County Meath
Most of Meath's homes were built after 1990, and it is one of the main pyrite scheme areas. Its heavy, poorly drained clay soils in the south-east raise subsidence questions too.
Facts on this page checked against each source on 29 October 2026. Each one links to its source. How we check
In Census 2022, 18.2% of the 72,549 households in County Meath lived in homes built before 1971, against 28.5% nationally, and 5.4% 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 Meath: the age of its houses, its ground, and the schemes that apply.
The age of the housing in County Meath
| Area | Households | Pre-1919 | Pre-1971 | Pre-1991 | 1991 to 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Meath | 72,549 | 5.4% | 18.2% | 38.0% | 47.1% |
| 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 Meath, 38.0% of households live in homes built before 1991.
Ground conditions in County Meath
- Over half of Meath is limestone glacial till lowland. Towards Ashbourne and Duleek it gets wetter, and around Dunshaughlin and Ashbourne surface-water gleys on heavy glacial till are poorly drained (Farmers Journal soil survey of Co. Meath).
- In the north, drumlin hills on shale break up the landscape, with water-affected soils on the lower slopes (Farmers Journal).
- By the end of 2019, homes in Fingal and Meath made up over 90% of applications to the Pyrite Remediation Scheme (Comptroller and Auditor General, 2019 report).
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 Meath
Pyrite Remediation Scheme: County Meath is in the scheme. As published in 2020, homes had to be built and completed between 1 January 1997 and 12 December 2013, certified with a damage condition rating of 2 attributable to pyrite heave, and meet the scheme's other conditions (C&AG). Pyrite heave lifts floors; underpinning doesn't fix it.
See pyrite and defective blocks.
Getting a house in County Meath 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
Dublin · County Louth · County Westmeath · County Kildare · County Offaly · All county pages
Questions people ask
Is it pyrite or subsidence?
Pyrite heave swells the hardcore under ground-floor slabs and cracks walls and floors from below. Subsidence is the ground under the foundations moving down. They need different fixes, and an engineer's testing tells them apart.
Does the pyrite scheme cover Meath?
Yes, for homes built and completed between 1 January 1997 and 12 December 2013 that meet the scheme's other conditions.
How old are Meath's homes?
In Census 2022, 18.2% of Meath's 72,549 households lived in homes built before 1971, and 47.1% in homes built between 1991 and 2010.
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 Meath?
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.