Subsidence

Subsidence most commonly occurs when clay soil under the foundations dries up and shrinks, frequently due to moisture extraction by the roots of nearby trees. This type of subsidence typically occurs in the summer following hot, dry weather. The second most common cause is a leakage from underground pipes washing away or softening the soil beneath the foundations. Another less common form of ground movement is heave, which occurs when the ground swells – often due to increased moisture levels in clay soil after the removal of trees.

In many cases, subsidence damage can be repaired relatively easily and effectively without foundation work. This is usually the case when the underlying cause has been resolved, for example by removing a tree or repairing a leaking pipe. It is only in a small number of cases when the cause cannot be removed or resolved that foundation work becomes necessary.

Typical signs of damage caused by subsidence include cracks in walls and ceilings that spread diagonally, door and window frames becoming wider at the top than the bottom and bowed walls. Our specialist subsidence surveyors can assess the structural soundness of a property suffering from subsidence to determine the most appropriate work required to strengthen the property, if needed, and repair damaged brickwork and concrete.

Our dedicated teams are well experienced in repairing cracked or misaligned drains, removing or pruning problematic trees and roots, and underpinning to prevent further subsidence problems.

We also offer full subsidence damage repair and subsidence damage restoration services.