Some 70 per cent of subsidence claims are for homes built on clay soils. Neil Curling, senior structural claims manager at Halifax Home Insurance explains: Large areas of the country are built on this type of soil, which is prone to shrink and swell as it dries and re-hydrates.
People will often see cracks appear in their gardens during summer, which is indicative of shrinkage of the clay. Its not the clay itself that causes the problem, but trees and other vegetation extracting moisture from it.
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Cracks in walls, especially if they start from the corners of windows or doors, are key warning signs that your property might be subsiding. It is also worth checking the propertys survey which will state if there has been historical activity such as mining. An additional drainage survey could also highlight risks caused by water leaking into the soil beneath.
Take note of trees growing close to the house as the roots can stretch for metres, snaking into your homes foundations. Trees also take water out from the ground, causing it to shrink and move. Simply removing trees can solve as many as 84 per cent of potential subsidence claims. This also applies when planning on planting trees homeowners must take into account the risk trees pose when growing close to a property.
In severe cases subsidence can cause serious structural damage and even destroy properties. If in doubt it is always worth contacting your insurer, or a structural surveyor.
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