How Common is Subsidence in the UK?

According to LV Insurance, 4.4 million homeowners have no idea what subsidence is. More worryingly, however, the same source also claims that one in five customers noticed the signs, and 26% of those who noticed them took no action to fix it. This is mainly because over half of those trying to make a claim for subsidence didn’t know if their current house insurance policy included subsidence cover, according to the same source. 

With a 49% increase in claims made to rectify subsidence problems, it’s never been more important for you to know what subsidence is, the causes and the signs that go along with it. In this article, that’s exactly what we’ll be discussing, along with how common subsidence is in Britain, and how bad it’s expected to become over the next few decades.

Subsidence explained

You might be wondering what subsidence is, especially given the figures we discussed at the start of this piece about the number of people who actually don’t know what it is or what it means for the structural integrity of your property. Subsidence occurs when the ground that sits around and underneath your building foundations becomes weak and compromised. 

This can cause the structure that sits on top to move and shift, usually in a downward slope. The only way to rectify subsidence is to have the property underpinned. We’ll discuss Geobear’s non-disruptive underpinning technology later on in this article. 

Essentially, underpinning is done to restore the strength back to the ground, protecting and saving the building that sits on top in the process. Underpinning will last for many decades, so you’ll have peace of mind that any underpinning solutions done by Geobear will offer durable results that promise nothing but longevity, indefinitely. 

The causes of subsidence

There are many different factors at play when it comes to the causes of subsidence. Whether it’s caused by one thing or a combination of factors, the extent of the subsidence will dictate the action taken. No two cases of subsidence are the same, which is why Geobear are happy to provide a tailored service to every single one of our customers. With this in mind, if you know the causes of subsidence, you’ll be better positioned to deal with it and identify it, as well as prevent it from happening in the future. Here are the main causes of subsidence, whether it be in a domestic or a commercial setting:

• Clay soil expansion or contraction
• Water that is allowed to pool
• Drains that are cracked or damaged
• Guttering that leaks onto driveways, patios and garden paths
• Trees planted too close to the house
• Past underground mining activities 
• Sinkholes appearing under the foundations of the home 
• Being located on a large, busy main road that has lorries, tractors and other heavy vehicles passing through
• Heavy work being done constantly that is close to your home 

What are the signs that you have subsidence issues?

Subsidence might not always be easy to identify, especially if you’re not in the field or haven’t had a survey carried out. Here at Geobear, we’re pleased to offer a subsidence survey service for both domestic and commercial clients who suspect that their property is being affected. We will carefully and meticulously inspect the structure, looking for even the smallest signs that subsidence is at play. 

Geoebar will then give you a report of our findings. We will also give you our professional and expert recommendations and suggestions moving forward. We endeavour to give our customers peace of mind, whether we identify subsidence issues or not. If subsidence is the culprit, then you can rest assured that we’ll be on hand to deliver fast, effective and non-disruptive solutions. We do this through the resin injection method. 

This involves injecting the ground with a fast-working, long-lasting resin. It runs through the voids and gaps in the ground, expanding and hardening as it goes. This restores the ground back to its full strength and stability, rectifying those signs of subsidence that appeared initially. This is a far more convenient solution when compared to more traditional underpinning techniques. But how do you know if subsidence solutions from Geobear are needed? Here are the signs:

• Large cracks in either external or interior walls (some may run in a zig-zag pattern, along the brickwork mortar line)
• Sinking or sloping floors
• Sinking or sloping ceilings
• Doors and windows that become jammed shut
• Doors and windows that can’t be closed
• Tearing wallpaper with no signs of damp
• Extensions or conservatories coming away from the rest of the house
• The house is noticeably leaning to one side
• Cracks in driveways, patios or garden paths

Is subsidence common in the UK?

According to South East Online, nearly 11% of all homes in Britain will be affected by subsidence issues by the year 2070. 

While it’s not an overly common problem, it will depend on the area you live in. This is because the foundations could have been placed on clay soil. Alternatively, your house may have been built on an old mine. As discussed, these things can heighten the risk of subsidence. As such, have all of the correct surveys done before you purchase your home. However, it is argued that climate change could affect the number of people who will experience the issue. 

The Construction Management Magazine claims that subsidence risk is increasing thanks to environmental changes, most notably the issue of additional rainfall, followed by prolonged periods of hot, dry weather. While we can’t do much to lessen the effects of climate change immediately, the best thing you can do is prepare your home in the hopes that it limits the risk as much as possible. Some of the ways in which you can prepare your home for climate change-related subsidence issues are as follows:

• Take specialist advice from us here at Geobear
• Consider the effect of laying impermeable driveways, patios and garden paths
• Don’t plant trees or large shrubs near your house
• Make sure new structures are sitting on foundations suitable for clay soil environments
• Don’t remove large trees that predate the construction of your home unless you’ve sought expert advice beforehand

If you would like further information about subsidence solutions, underpinning and subsidence surveys for your domestic or commercial property, then get in touch with a member of our professional, knowledgeable team today – we’re always on hand to help you, every step of the way.