Spotting Subsidence
If cracks are creeping up your walls you might be becoming a bit concerned, particularly if you are living in an area at risk of subsidence issues, but don’t worry just yet. Before you begin phoning around for underpinning quotes, you need to be sure that the situation you are dealing with is in fact subsidence, and that it is severe enough to bring about such drastic action.
The majority of properties at some point develop cracks. Part of the natural lifespan of a house entails it expanding and contracting in accordance with temperature adjustments, as nearly every new building sinks into the ground somewhat as they settle. These types of factors are usually taken into account during the design and construction phases, in order to minimise the damaging affects to your property. The real trick, is determining when your crack is brought on by subsidence, and when it is a harmless effect of seasonal change.
Cracks that are linear and less than 3 millimetres in width tend to be notthat problematic, specially in a new development in which they are more likely to occur on account of settling. If you have an extension added to your property, because they also need to settle, you are likely to discover that cracks appear at the joint where they connect to the main building. This may also happen with bay windows with time.
If you notice a crack becoming wider throughout a dry spell, it is likely to be related to some form of subsidence, but again is not necessarily devastating. A crack may open up as wide as five cm, yet still close up once again when wetter weather returns as part of natural and normal ground movement. As soon as cracks open wider past five centimetres, and/or refuse to close again when rainy seasons come back, that is when subsidence issues can be viewed as serious enough to cause concern. Whenever subsidence is suspected, you must contact your insurance provider right away.
Additional warning signs of subsidence may be observed by buckling wallpaper within the corners of rooms, and also doors and windows sticking or turning out to be extremely hard to open/close. A subsidence associated crack is often characterised by being tapered, noticeable internally and externally on your home, and usually extends beneath the damp-course. If you encounter these issues and have reason to suspect subsidence, then you should look for professional help as soon as possible.
Insurance providers will usually dispatch a surveyor to asses your property in the eventuality of a subsidence claim, who may possibly in turn request the assistance of a structural engineer. At this time, it may still turn out that there is little cause for concern. Often, repairs could be as simple as filling in cracks and redecorating where necessary, though it is likely that markers will be used to monitor any possible future movement. If the circumstance is serious enough to justify substantial structural work being undertaken, it is fairly probable that you may have to vacate the property for a considerable length of time.
Getting subsidence insurance after your home has already been diagnosed with the condition can be difficult, but it is important you do. Some insurance companies may try to refrain from providing you with cover by setting your premiums at an unrealistically high price, however there are companies around who will give you a far better deal. It is usually worth looking around, but this is especially true regarding insurance against subsidence.
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