Subsidence in neighbouring terrace

worriedwomble

Hi I am a new member and would be grateful for some advice.

I live in a mid terrace property, the property next to me is an end terrace. I noticed that there was a crack in the cement that has moved along from next door to my property - it is only a few inches on to my property.

This did not worry me at first, but I have noticed that there is another crack further away from my property and this is very noticeable from a distance of 10 feet or so. The tenant says that she has cracks on the inside and the front door is sticking.

Apparently, the owner has had some workmen out to inspect the drains but we do not know anything further.

I do not have any other cracks in my property, but I am understandably worried.

If a neighbouring property has cracks, does that mean my house will follow and develop them. What should I do?

:eek:

Worried womble

ormus

yes, theres every chance that any subsidence next door could affect your house.
its an interesting insurance problem? ie could your insurance co claim off next door?

Mankysteve

Do you own your property if you do I would speak to independent surveyor to take a look.

Doozergirl

End terraces are much more likely to be affected by subsidence than a mid-terrace. You shouldn't experience as much movement as next door but she should really be getting in contact with her home insurer if she is noticing so much movement and it's moving towards you. If you stop next door moving then, fingers crossed, it will stop affecting you so much.

worriedwomble

Thanks, but have suspicion that owners of next door having money problems and possibly not insured.

worriedwomble

Also forgot to mention that some work taken place down road. They have been drilling 80 ft deep bore holes - something to do with an energy efficient way of obtaining heat from the ground. Could this be the cause of the problem?

darich

worriedwomble wrote: »

Also forgot to mention that some work taken place down road. They have been drilling 80 ft deep bore holes - something to do with an energy efficient way of obtaining heat from the ground. Could this be the cause of the problem?

how far down the road?
how many boreholes?
how large?
any other heavy works?

If the boreholes are a "normal" size of around 300mm diameter then if they're at the end of the road, I wouldn't have thought it would affect you, directly.
Indirectly, it's possible IF the boreholes have encountered some underground culverts, watercourses or even a mine. Any collapse of something like that MAY affect your property but you haven't said how far away it is.

worriedwomble

Its about 200 meters away. Think they re 80 ft deep. Not sure how many. They had big crane on site for a long time too. Would this cause damage?

darich

worriedwomble wrote: »

Its about 200 meters away. Think they re 80 ft deep. Not sure how many. They had big crane on site for a long time too. Would this cause damage?

Extremely unlikely that the works would directly cause you any disturbance at all.
However, they may have caused an underground watercourse to change, or encountered an old mine and made it collapse or maybe something else.
Indirectly it may have caused your problem but it's so difficult to prove.
You could try wandering past the site and asking what they're up to.
Strike up a conversation and ask how the works are going and ask if they've dound anything interesting underground.
If they have found something that could have collapsed/flooded/moved underground, then all you'll know is what they tell you - it doesn't mean that movement/collapse/flood underground has caused your subsidence.

And in all honesty the company will almost definitely deny any of its work caused you problem unless you find several other properties with problems in your area. Are there any other properties experiencing similar symptoms?

I think the chances are so slim of them causing it, I'd be inclined to forget about them but there's nothing to lose by chatting to workmen.
If you need to ask daft questions and make them think you're thick, then do it - it's a means to an end!!

Good luck

EDIT : "big crane" - how big? what was it doing? Again unlikely it'll cause you any issues unless it was carrying out dynamic compaction. If that's the case then there will probably be others with problems like yours.
check this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_compaction

worriedwomble

I have been told by a friend of a friend, that this is actually thermal expansion. I assume this just means the brick has expanded and caused the crack. What is the remedy - or do you need to do anything.

iamcornholio

Various movement leads to specific types of cracking, and so its not worth while speculating what may and may not be the cause, solution and who's responsibility it is, unless the cause is known

Generally, movement of the foundations (subsidence, settlement, heave, clay shrinkage etc) will give stepped cracking at wall corners or below/above openings, and will most likely be both internal and external.

Thermal cracking (ie shrinkage) is more often vertical cracks through the bricks and mortar - and external only

The appropriate remedial work depends on the cause, and whether the cause is ongoing or no longer occuring.

If the neighbours drains (or anything else on their property) is the cause, they they are responsible. You claim off your insurers, and they in turn will attempt recovery off those responsible