Cracks in Your Walls: When Should You Worry About Subsidence?
Cracks in Your Walls: When Should You Worry About Subsidence?
Finding a crack in your wall can be unsettling. The good news is that most cracks are harmless. But some can point to subsidence, and spotting the difference early can save a lot of time, money and stress.
What is subsidence?
Subsidence happens when the ground beneath a building moves downwards, taking part of the foundations with it. Across Essex and London, much of the ground is clay, which shrinks in dry weather and swells when it gets wet. Nearby trees and leaking drains can make this movement worse.
Cracks that are usually nothing to worry about
Fine hairline cracks in plaster are very common. They often appear in new builds, after building work or as a house dries out, and are usually cosmetic.
Signs worth getting checked
Diagonal cracks, especially around doors and windows, that are wider at one end.
Cracks wider than a few millimetres, or ones that keep growing.
Cracks that show on both the inside and outside of the same wall.
Doors and windows that suddenly start sticking.
What to do if you spot a crack
Don't panic. Take dated photos and mark the ends of the crack in pencil so you can see if it changes. If it's growing or matches the signs above, speak to your buildings insurer and get advice from a structural engineer.
Subsidence doesn't always mean underpinning. Often, the cause can be dealt with by managing nearby trees or repairing drains, followed by repairs to the cracks.
How CWT can help
With 30 years' experience, CWT carries out subsidence and heave investigations across Essex, London and the surrounding areas. We work with homeowners, buyers and loss adjusters to diagnose the cause and design the right repair. Get in touch on 01702 540146.
