Residential

Name: Omar Tarek Alata Job Title: Area Manager – Greater London and South England What is your background?  My background covers the areas of civil engineering and construction both in terms of academic studies and work experience. Having graduated from my schooling as the top of my class with an American Diploma, I embarked on […]

Name: David Townend   Job Title: Area Manager   What is your background? Following schooling in Huddersfield, I attended Portsmouth Polytechnic to sit a BEng Honours degree in Engineering Geology and Geotechnics. Since graduating 30 years ago, I have worked in geotechnical engineering in the varying roles of Consultant (the likes of Amey, Atkins, AECOM, […]

David has been an integral part of the Geobear team since joining in 2018. We are pleased to announce that he has been promoted to Head of Regional Sales (North)   We took some time out with David, to talk about his journey to this point.    Firstly, David congratulations on your new role with […]

Buying a house is one of the most important things you’ll ever do, it will also be one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make, so it’s absolutely imperative that the property you go for has, for the most part, what you need. It’s also paramount that it’s structurally sound and won’t prove to be […]

Described by the Judges as “impressive and proactive” We are delighted to announce we are winners at this year’s Insurance Times Claims Awards for Claims Service Solution of the Year – General. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have designed a whole new process to deliver every on-site subsidence repair project. In partnership with Sedgwick and […]

Subsidence. It’s every homeowner’s worst nightmare. With subsidence comes great expense, worry, and disruption. In this article, we will discuss how £1.00 can help you identify subsidence. Types of Cracks and when are they serious? Cracks in the walls can lead homeowners to suspect there is a subsidence issue, however, it is much more likely […]

According to historical data, Spring is the most popular time to buy and sell. The Easter break is known to be a great time for those looking to buy and sell. Buyers are particularly excited at the thought of being in their new home in time to enjoy the summer months. The break also allows […]

The Insurance Times Claims Excellence Awards are designed to recognise and reward excellence across claims – the companies, teams and individuals who have direct contact with customers in their hour of need. Geobear in partnership with Legal & General and Sedgwick have been shortlisted for Claims Service Solution of the Year (General) Stage 2 will […]

A certificate of structural adequacy (CSA) is a document issued following the completion of remedial works for subsidence.  The certificate will include, Terms of Appointment,  Description of damage to the property,  Cause of damage to the property,  Mitigation measures,  Description of the works completed.    A Chartered or Structural Engineer signs off the work, and […]

Geobear’s Infrastructure Manager for the North, Darren Scott, was concerned with the presence of cracks around the bay window of his home. He called in his work colleagues for advice and to provide a solution to resolve the subsidence issue.  Darren lives in a village in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire. The geology of […]

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation Act 2018) came into force on 20th March 2019. It is designed to ensure that all rented accommodation is fit for human habitation. The legislation requires landlords to meet their existing responsibilities with regard to property standards and safety. Landlords should ensure that their properties, including any common parts […]

The 2020 pandemic and finances The 2020 Coronoavirus pandemic has devastated economies across the world and left people extremely stressed about their finances, and household spending. There is no certainty about when things will resume as before, or if they ever will.  The UK Lockdowns have been announced with little warning meaning the fall in […]

This is a frequently asked question by those worried about subsidence. Building Surveyors and Structural Engineers use BRE guidelines to categorize, and this helps assessors determine whether the cracks are likely to affect the property and what repairs are required.  “BRE Digest 251, Assessment of damage in low- buildings” Category of damage,  Description of typical […]

For decades insurers have seen occasional yearly spikes in subsidence claims. These spikes typically follow major dry weather events and have happened once or twice a decade. To help predict whether a particular year will have a high number of subsidence claims, insurers and subsidence solutions providers look at weather data – the common data […]

In these unprecedented times, it will be a very different Summer to what we are accustomed to. In previous years most of our time is spent counting the days down until our Summer holidays. Government advice is changing all the time, but holidays abroad or in the UK will be limited due to the current […]

What causes Subsidence?  Think Jelly and marbles in a jar! Cohesive soil – Clay – Think jelly – Very fine platelets: 10,000 clay particles make up the thickness of a 10p coin (2mm) and the molecular forces hold water within their structure (cohesive) Non Cohesive soil – Granular soil; Gravel and Sand – Think marbles […]

Freya Chapman has successfully managed the Customer Service Team at Geobear UK for the last four years. It is now time for Freya, to take the next step in her career with Geobear. On Monday 1st June 2020, Freya commenced a training programme that will support her new role as an Area Manager for the […]

Finding out your property has a subsidence issue can be daunting and choosing a solution can be difficult.  This short article discusses five differences between subsidence repair techniques, underpinning, and geopolymer injection.  How do the methods solve the subsidence problem? Mass concrete underpinning aims to strengthen the foundation of an existing building or other structure. […]

Subsidence is a homeowner’s worst nightmare. It can affect the structural safety of your home and it’s value. We are spending more time than ever at home, with the current lockdown, so there is no better time to make these 5 essential checks of your home.  Home Checklist,  1. Summer is coming and the Meteorological […]

The Meteorological Office Rainfall and Evaporation Calculation System (MORECS) is calculated from daily values of hours of sunshine, air temperature, vapour pressure, wind speed and rainfall, 2020 is ahead of 2003 and 2018 and on an upward trajectory. The continued intensification of soil moisture deficits (SMDs) and river flow recessions into early April, coupled with […]