Recent concern for subsidance

Homeowners are being urged to stay alert for symptoms of subsidence, as extreme weather events become more frequent

By Jason Podesta | 6 October 2024

The visible impact of climate change is already here. Latest reports show that the northern hemisphere’s summer 2024 was the hottest ever, but the UK’s summer rainfall was around 10 percent above average.

These extremes can lead to structural damage, both extreme heat and sporadic periods of heavy rainfall makes buildings more susceptible to damage, subsidence can impact the value of your home and if not treated problems can escalate.

What is subsidence?

Subsidence occurs when the ground beneath a building sinks, causing unstable foundations, damage to homes, and compromising a structure’s safety.

Homeowners looking to sell could risk losing 20 per cent of their property’s value if severe subsidence is found.

At a time when mortgage rates remain high, homebuyers and those remortgaging already must pay a lot more than they would have had to a few years ago.

So, to prevent further financial losses for homeowners looking to sell, UK’s leading subsidence expert Mainmark Ground Engineering (UK) is advising homeowners take an ‘improve before you move’ approach when selling your home.

Freya Chapman, Residential Lead at Mainmark, said: “With the UK’s continued changing weather patterns – with more wet and warm summers predicted – we all need to consider the wider impact, especially on our homes. Periods of extreme heat can lead to subsidence, a problem which effects around 40,000 properties a year.

What are the symptoms of subsidence?

The most common sign of subsidence are cracks appearing in the walls, naturally weakening a property’s structure.

Identifying the signs of subsidence and dealing with the problem as soon as possible can help prevent any additional damage to your home, key signs to look out for:

Cracks in walls, floors or ceilings – These cracks are usually at least 3mm thick. In walls, they’re likely to be wider at the top.
Doors and windows sticking – As walls move, door and window frames may become distorted, causing windows and doors to stick or not open and close properly.
Uneven floors – Because subsidence can cause the ground under your home to become uneven, it can lead to sloped or sinking floors.
Extensions or conservatory subsidence and separating – If your home has an extension or a conservatory examine the joints between the extension and the main building. If it looks as if the extension is pulling away, it may be a sign of subsidence.
Ripples or creases in wallpaper – When wallpaper acts up, homeowners often think it’s caused by damp, but if there are no signs of moisture, it may mean that the walls are moving due to subsidence.
Leaning of the house – As the foundation shifts, the whole house may lean to one side.
Bay windows – The historical misconception that bay windows are lighter structural elements that require a shallower foundation than the main house, leads to bay windows in older homes being particularly vulnerable to subsidence.

Non-invasive ‘keyhole’ surgery

Thanks to advances in technology, subsidence can be fixed in one day using methods like keyhole surgery from experts like Mainmark. Long-gone are the days of costly, resource-intensive and disruptive renovation works, which take days or weeks to complete.

Resin injection is a non-invasive technology, whereby resin is injected into the soil below the foundations to reinforce the ground. This is efficient and more economical than tradition concrete underpinning.

Mainmark Ground Engineering (UK) Ltd is a subsidiary of the Mainmark group of companies established. For over three decades, Mainmark has established itself as a pioneering force in the industry, leading the way in developing and delivering cutting-edge solutions, earning an international recognition as an award-winning ground engineering organisation.

Mainmark’s resins are an environmentally inert alternative to energy-intensive ground excavations. It’s a straightforward and cost-effective process, and will save homeowners a lot of time, money and hassle long-term. Mainmark’s unique approach also applies to commercial buildings which may also be impacted by subsidence.