Subsidence is the term for the caving in or sinking of an area of land. Subsidence in homes and office buildings is generally caused by unstable soil beneath the property rather than the weight of the structure that has been built on top of it. Subsidence can have negative effects on the visual appearance of a building, but it can also be more serious and cause structural problems. It’s crucial to catch subsidence early on, here are 4 ways to spot subsidence.
1: Doors & Windows
Some of the early signs of subsidence in a property can be spotted by checking the windows and doors of a property as they are weak spots. Go around to all of the windows and doors in the property and look for small cracks appearing in the walls around them, if you observe cracks in more than one spot it is likely you are dealing with subsidence. You can also open and close the windows and doors. Doors and windows sticking is another tell tale sign of subsidence.
2: Cracks In Walls
Some small cracks appearing in walls is normal in a lot of circumstances, but watch out for larger cracks especially if they get wider as they get higher up on the wall. If the cracks are 3mm or wider and moving upwards diagonally, you should contact a subsidence specialist to get a second opinion immediately.
3: Extension
If you have added an extension onto your home or office then you should go and check the point where it meets the main building. As subsidence is caused by movement underground, you may be able to see a crack where the two meet, as your extension may be being pulled away from the main building.
4: Wallpaper
If you have wallpaper in building there is another sign of subsidence that you can look out for. Go around to all of the rooms with wallpaper looking in particular at where the walls meet the ceiling for signs of crinkling.
Always be conscious and on the lookout for subsidence. Check if your doors or windows are sticking or have small cracks around them, watch out for diagonal cracks in the wall especially if they are 3mm or wider, check where any extensions meet the main building for cracks and finally look for crinkles in your wallpaper where the walls meet the ceiling. If you have any or all of these signs of subsidence, call a professional out to get to the bottom of the problem. Book your subsidence consultation by visiting us online today.
