house subsidence

[geoffdown]

Ok guys whats best to do go to insurance or get independent report then if it has subsidence got to insurance then dont no which way to turn as insurance wants £1000 excess if subsidence is the case but don't no if they want the money straight away and if no subsidence found do they keep the £1000:nenau

[clivvy]

how much is an independent report? Id go that route first because as soon as you contact insurance its going to start costing more than likely.

[rustic]

Ok guys whats best to do go to insurance or get independent report then if it has subsidence got to insurance then dont no which way to turn as insurance wants £1000 excess if subsidence is the case but don't no if they want the money straight away and if no subsidence found do they keep the £1000:nenau

What is the situation that you think it could be subsidence?
A small hairline crack in say a breezeblock wall is natural if the wall is quite long for example.

[geoffdown]

What is the situation that you think it could be subsidence?
A small hairline crack in say a breezeblock wall is natural if the wall is quite long for example.

Its about £250 ish and the crack is long but only bout 3mm wide but looks like it has got bigger and 1side of crack is not on the same line as the other not lower just sticks out 2mm if that makes sense.

[kitchenman]

check for movement, my garage had a problem, the assessor called and stuck some small disks on the wall either side of the crack, the disks had a small indentation, they called once a month to check the distance between indentations with a fancy calliper gauge. This enabled them to check movement. A small washer would do the job stuck with silicone.
I was not charged for this.
The problem was caused by fir trees in a neighbours garden drinking all the water in the ground, the clay dried up a bit.

[Terranoman]

Do you have picture of crack? Also any large trees or hedge row within 5 meters?

I am currently doing quite a bit of work for insurance companies and tree issues.

[jims-terrano]

The root system of large trees spread out further than the canopy. Also a leaking drain or something causing running water can excavate under foundations.

[geoffdown]

Do you have picture of crack? Also any large trees or hedge row within 5 meters?

I am currently doing quite a bit of work for insurance companies and tree issues.

in a photo out side u wont c it that well as its only about 2mm in side in acttic is bout 1mm and runs from chimmey down following the motar line in some places and might be through a concret block no trees in a 5-6m and that's a small plum tree bout 6-8 foot high, but 10 y ago if not more there was laylandi trees bout 1.5m away from corner of house they were bout 12ft high and when cut down trunks were round 8-10 inches a crack appered then but has not got any worse that was 10yrs ago but crack in acttic has appeard in last 1.5yrs

[geoffdown]

The root system of large trees spread out further than the canopy. Also a leaking drain or something causing running water can excavate under foundations.

no drains in that aera

[geoffdown]

check for movement, my garage had a problem, the assessor called and stuck some small disks on the wall either side of the crack, the disks had a small indentation, they called once a month to check the distance between indentations with a fancy calliper gauge. This enabled them to check movement. A small washer would do the job stuck with silicone.
I was not charged for this.
The problem was caused by fir trees in a neighbours garden drinking all the water in the ground, the clay dried up a bit.

cool if that was free who did it and have u got their no.:thumb2

[makeitfit]

Are you actually covered for subsidence ? If so get the ins co to sort it :thumb2

[geoffdown]

Are you actually covered for subsidence ? If so get the ins co to sort it :thumb2

yes got Halifax which covers it but don't want to get tarnished with subsidane if it turn out to be not if that makes sense:o

[solarman216]

you got the insurance cover, so put it in their hands now, if you do not they may find a way to wriggle out of a claim, you have to be up front with them, oh and I am a builder, so well versed, Rick

[geoffdown]

you got the insurance cover, so put it in their hands now, if you do not they may find a way to wriggle out of a claim, you have to be up front with them, oh and I am a builder, so well versed, Rickok will tell insurance in morning thanks for the advice:thumbs even thro its not Nissan related Ryan take note:doh

[kitchenman]

As you had leylandi there jn the past you possibly have heave, the trees are not soaking up the water any more so the ground is swelling.
The cracks in my garage closed up after the trees were felled in the garden adjacent.

The insurance company arranged the inspections

[bry]

yes got Halifax which covers it but don't want to get tarnished with subsidane if it turn out to be not if that makes sense:o
It does make sense.Because if you sell in the future,it will be recorded.

[rustic]

in a photo out side u wont c it that well as its only about 2mm in side in acttic is bout 1mm and runs from chimmey down following the motar line in some places and might be through a concret block no trees in a 5-6m and that's a small plum tree bout 6-8 foot high, but 10 y ago if not more there was laylandi trees bout 1.5m away from corner of house they were bout 12ft high and when cut down trunks were round 8-10 inches a crack appered then but has not got any worse that was 10yrs ago but crack in acttic has appeard in last 1.5yrs

How is the house constructed, ie cavity wall, inside breeze block, solid brick etc etc. How old is the house approx?
Are any neighbours houses affected?

On our previous house, there were cracks in the mortar on the outside between the lower and upper windows, but both windows were virtually floor to ceiling, typical 1970' house. When we sold the house these were not even mentioned in the survey. You often see poorly pointed brickwork on houses that clearly follow a crack, so should we be concerned about these?

I wonder how many cracks are already established in most modern houses, which have plaster board blobbed onto the wall. It's just you can't see them.:doh

You have heard the term papering over the cracks, I wonder how many houses are sold with new wall paper.:eek:
Is the crack visible from the outside? If not, you could wait a while, but if you think that the chimney breast is at risk, then maybe some good pointing will help.

In screwfix they sell crack reinforcement kits, which comprise stainless steel pins and special adhesive which should strengthen the crack.

I am not a builder, but my thoughts are if you register a subsidence issue, you might see your premiums go up, and maybe the insurance company may later on, refuse to insure you. I don't know how house insurance works, but they are there to make a profit, by paying out as little as possible.

Personally, and this is only my non qualified opinion, I would pay privately for a structural engineer, maybe a few hundred, but this will either resolve your worries, or start the ball rolling for a full insurance claim with professional evidence.

Getting a builder to bodge or hide the job could affect a later claim, I don't know, it could be seen as preventative maintenance...:nenau

I know you are getting mixed replies and conflicting solutions, but the Insurance game is just that... a game, with winners and loosers, and we all know who the loosers are.:eek:

Some more food for thought there.


Rustic

[briggie]

when I tried to claim for a leaking roof due to loose slates / coping stones , they refused saying it was lack of maintenance ......just a warning ... they will try to wriggle out of it ..... even send a assessor ... in my case he didn't even go on the roof , he just stood at the roadside and used a camera with a zoom .