Subsidence

Subsidence occurs when the ground underneath a building no longer supports the foundations. The resulting instability will need urgent investigation. Structural Engineers Reports have wide experience of such cases and how they can affect your property.

Indications of subsidence can range from minor cracking to distortion in windows and door frames. Sometimes there is structural cracking. Doors or windows may stick – a leaking roof is another possible sign.  There are a wide range of causes, the most common of which are the effects of trees on shrinkable clay and leakage from underground drainage

Heave is the opposite of subsidence, when the building is pushed upwards. It most commonly occurs when a mature tree is removed or dies, causing moisture levels in the ground to rise and hence clay beneath the foundations to swell.

If subsidence is diagnosed the next stop is usually the insurance company. Your insurer may offer to provide you with an engineer, but please remember that you can choose your own instead – fees can be included within your claim. Structural Engineers Reports can provide independent advice and act in your interests, rather than those of your insurance company.

In cases where subsidence is suspected, our report may advise that further investigations are carried out in order to find the cause of the damage. These may include the digging of trial holes to look at the foundations, removal of soil for testing or an investigation of the drainage system. Sometimes a period of monitoring is recommended using sensitive measuring equipment to determine whether the building is moving.