Subsidence

Subsidence is a serious structural issue that not only has the potential to affect the safety of your home, but it’s resale value too.

Subsidence puts stress on your building’s foundations when there is movement in the ground underneath your home. The causes can be many and varied, from changing water tables and soil type to the removal of large trees nearby. Subsidence can cause cracks to appear in your home, door and window frames to warp and you may notice wallpaper creasing where it meets the wall and ceiling junctions.

Not all cracks are caused by subsidence; temperature and humidity can cause materials to shrink and expand without affecting the structure of your home. If a crack is caused by subsidence it will typically appear close to doors and windows, be wider at the top than the bottom, be visible inside and outside and thicker than 33mm.

In the first instance, cracks are generally monitored to track the speed at which your property is moving. If subsidence is identified as the problem, repairs will be carried out to rectify the problem. In some cases where the subsidence is more serious, structural support may be needed to support your home during the repair process.

Subsidence may be subject to third party liability should the cause be related to construction or demolition, defective materials or faulty workmanship. We understand there may be considerable anxiety associated with a subsidence claim. That’s why our team will relieve you of the burden of compiling, submitting and negotiating your claim with your insurance company and their loss adjustor, to achieve the best possible outcome.

Talk to us about your loss now for peace-of-mind that your claim is in the best hands

Things to remember about subsidence:

  • Subsidence is a serious structural issue and requires expert attention.
  • Subsidence has several causes, from shifting water tables and soil type to previous underground works and large tree removal.
  • A thorough approach to monitoring is very important, including drain, mapping and geo-technical surveys.