What is clay shrinkage?

We hope you are enjoying the long spell of hot dry weather, but what impact will this have on our homes in the future?

With rising temperatures, prolonged drought causes the ground to shrink naturally. This can negatively impact our homes, as the soil’s volume changes when it dries, potentially damaging buildings. This phenomenon, known as subsidence, is the sinking or collapse of the ground beneath our properties, along with other ground-related issues.

Dry weather and high temperatures have been found to be a major factor in the emergence of subsidence in clay soils. However, every summer can be completely different to the previous one; summer 2018 had the hottest, driest June for years, whereas summer 2019 had one of the wettest Junes on record. If future predictions of warmer, drier summers and increases in annual temperature and rainfall variability are correct, we can expect more properties to suffer from subsidence because of climate change.

Common signs of subsidence can include:

• Cracking that runs diagonally across a wall
• Cracks that are wider at the top than at the bottom
• Cracks that are noticeable internally and externally
• Cracking near doors and windows
• Ripples appearing in wallpaper finishes

If you have spotted any of these signs, don’t worry, a Structural Engineer can help determine whether they are something that needs further attention.

Our team can provide expert advice and a written report to check whether hot weather is affecting your property. If it is, we’ll explain your options and help you understand the most appropriate next steps.