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It can becaused by:
? Soiltype. Clay soils are particularlysusceptible as they shrink and swell depending on moisture content.
? Treesand shrubs. All kinds of vegetation can drawwater from the soil causing it to shrink. This is not a problem in the coolermonths as tree and shrubs get plenty of water from rainfall. However, duringhot, dry spells in the summer thirsty roots will go in search of water oftenpushing under and/or through the foundations.
? Leakydrains.If you have a leak, it can wash away the soil under your house. If yoursoil has a high sand or gravel content, it is more likely to be washed away.
Spotting a crack
If you find acrack in your house, it is usually the first sign of a subsidence problem.However, if you see a crack, don't panic. There may be another reason for it.New properties take time to settle under their own weight. Fine cracks can befound in plastered walls as it begins to settle. A change in temperature can alsocause minor cracks to appear where walls and ceilings meet. If the crack isless than 3mm, there's nothing to worry about.
How to spot subsidence
If cracks appear in your house or if diagonal cracks appear in both the plasterworkinside and the brickwork outside, you will need to investigate the possibilityof subsidence. This requires an expert like a structuralengineer or a tree specialist to assess the cause and extent of the damage.
Otherindicators are:
? Windows and doorsthat stick (this is because the building is shifting)
? Wallpaper ripples(make sure it's not caused by damp first)
? Cracks at the join ofan extension and the main house ? this indicates that the extension is pullingaway from the house.
How long will it take?
It could go onfor up to a year during which time a number of investigations will be carriedout to measure and monitor the rate of subsidence.
An expert willascertain:
? How the cracks aredeveloping
? What type of soil thehouse is built on
? The depth andcondition of your foundations and drains
? If tree roots arecausing the problem
Can it be fixed?
It all dependson what the cause is. If a tree is the problem, it can be pruned or removed. Ifa drain or brickwork is to blame, they can be repaired. The extent of thedamage will determine the extent of the repairs. The worst-case scenario involves underpinning yourproperty to strengthen the foundations. This generallyonly applies to between 20 and 30 percent of homes with a subsidence problem.
Can I prevent it?
Yes. There aresteps you can take to reinforce your home against subsidence. Check yourdrains, pipes and gutters for any blockages, splits and leaks. Keep your treesand shrubs pruned. If you plant new shrubs or trees make sure you do so wellaway from your house. If you see any signs of subsidence in your home, don?tignore it. The problem will not go away it could only get worse.
Will my coversubsidence?
Contact yourinsurer to find out if your home insurance policy covers subsidence. If itdoes, an assessor may pay you a visit to assess the extent of the damage.