Subsidence & Climate Change: What Role Does the Environment Play?

You might think that subsidence comes as a result of foundations being built on clay soil or because trees and shrubs have been planted too close to the structure, but there’s actually more at play, these days when it comes to the ever-increasing cases of subsidence. According to LV Insurance, there has been a 49% increase in subsidence-related house and building insurance claims, but why the sudden rise? In this article, we’ll be delving deeper into the correlation between climate change and subsidence, so what role does the environment and the state of the planet have to do with subsidence claim increases? Let’s take a closer look: 

What is subsidence?

Subsidence – it’s every property owner’s worst nightmare, but what is it? It is when the ground underneath the foundations of a building or structure begins to move and shift, taking the foundations with it. As such, this can cause the structural integrity of the property that sits on top to become compromised. 

When subsidence hits, it means that foundations are no longer strong enough to support the structure above. Subsidence will present itself in several ways, alerting the property owner to the issue before it becomes too severe. So what are the signs that subsidence is at play? Let’s take a look:

• Large cracks in exterior and interior walls, often running in a zig-zag pattern
• Sloping floors
• Sloping ceilings
• Rippling wallpaper with no signs of damp
• Extensions coming away from the main building
• Cracks appearing in driveways, patios and garden paths
• Bulges in driveways, patios and garden paths
• Doors and windows being jammed shut
• Being unable to close doors and windows

What is the correlation between subsidence & climate change?

The Guardian claims that the climate crisis is putting millions of homes in Britain at risk of subsidence. According to the same experts, hot summers followed by prolonged wet periods can cause the ground to shrink and crack. 

The British Geological Survey found that there is a correlation between subsidence and climate change. They combined British long-term Climate Projection scenarios for rainfall and temperature with geotechnical properties of the ground. 

As such, subsidence-risk areas of the UK were identified. In addition, other parts of the UK were highlighted to be at increased risk by the time 2050 rolls around, states The Guardian. Those areas are: London, Essex, Kent and Oxford. 

This is down to the clay formations underneath those particular areas. The Guardian states that there are similar projections in areas of high emissions. In 1990, around a million British homes were at risk of subsidence, but that figure is set to rise to 2.4 million by 2030 and 4 million by 2070. 

The Construction Management magazine states that record-breaking summer temperatures combined with heavy rainfall have resulted in a subsidence surge. This is important as subsidence can negatively impact the structural integrity of a building and increase the risk of flooding. 

According to the NASA Sea Level Change Portal, higher sea levels can result in increased flood risks overall. This can cause incalculable damage. However, the NASA Sea Level Change Portal seemingly has a handle on the situation, using new techniques to monitor the issue, such as GNSS reflectometry. This means that the situation can be monitored moving forward. Although it’s clear that subsidence is set to be an ongoing issue as climate change continues.

What impact does subsidence have & how can it be rectified?

According to LV Insurance, 4.4 million homeowners have no idea what it is, which is worrying considering the detrimental impact it can have on the integrity of your property. Subsidence, in the most severe cases, can cause the building to become uninhabitable. It can begin to sink into the ground, often causing pieces of the building to topple off. 

The larger the structure, the more damage subsidence can cause in the long run. It’s imperative, therefore, that these issues are repaired. Here at Geobear, we’re able to offer underpinning solutions to both domestic and commercial clients, using the resin injection method to rectify the problem. This is when the ground is injected with a fast-working resin. 

The resin will flow through the voids and gaps that sit in the ground, hardening as it goes along. In turn, this restores full strength and stability to both the ground and the foundations once again. The results are incredibly long-lasting, so you’ll never have to worry about subsidence again, all when you choose Geobear. Look to us to repair subsidence with our non-disruptive technology.

How can you future-proof your home against the problem?

As we’ve already touched upon, it’s obvious that climate change and the environment have a role to play when it comes to an increase in subsidence cases. Seeing as it’s now obvious that subsidence is here to stay, we must do everything we can to limit the risk to our homes and commercial structures, but how can we do that effectively? Here’s what we recommend when it comes to future-proofing your home:

• Refrain from planting trees and shrubs close to your property
• Fix any leaking drains, pipes and gutters
• Consider laying impermeable driveways, paths and patios 
• When having an extension done, make sure the foundations are suitable for clay soil
• If large trees are present that were there before the house, do not remove them, unless you’ve sought expert advice beforehand
• Contact Geobear for specialist help and advice, or to have a subsidence survey carried out for peace of mind

If you’re looking for subsidence solutions, or would simply like some professional help and advice surrounding the matter, then get in touch with a member of our friendly, knowledgeable team today – we’re always on hand to help you, from start to finish.