Spotting and Sorting Out Subsidence Problems Around Your Home

Spotting subsidence problemsMany people worry about the long term costs and safety of buying a house with subsidence. Subsidence refers to unstable building foundations which cause parts of the structure to slowly sink downwards. As with all building issues, levels of subsidence vary greatly, with home owners having to endure great costs and distress in more severe cases. If you are a landlord, subsidence is never a welcome sign for functional property management, so if you suspect your property has subsidence or the problem is getting worse, spotting the signs early may help you avoid larger worries down the road.

Causes

The most common causes of subsidence are due to geological, natural causes. Clay soils are a common culprit for the problem as they lock in moisture for long periods of time which then causes it to expand. Once dried, it then shrinks, making the foundations of a building unstable. These soils are usually found along river banks so the location of your property can be a crucial factor in subsidence risk. Look for signs of subsidence after a long wet or dry spell. Tree roots can also dry out this clay and create a problem to a structure as the roots grow out of control. This accounts for more than half of all subsidence cases so it is important to maintain or chop down a large tree close to your property. Uneven soils also add to the issue, especially in areas which witness earthquakes and tremors on minor and major fault lines.

Spotting subsidence problems

 

Spotting subsidence

The key thing you should look for when spotting signs of subsidence are cracks. It can sometimes be hard to differentiate a subsidence crack to one which has been the simple result of time and seasonal changes such as frost. Look for interior and exterior cracks which taper diagonally downwards across wall surfaces. Another sign is to look for changes in wallpaper. Once you have ruled out damp as the cause, subsidence should be the next worry. Many cracks are hidden by wallpaper, so as the levels of your walls shift; ripples and hanging corners may appear in the paper. If these signs are spotted, also test your doors and windows in their frames to check for alterations. Unfortunately, monitoring your house for subsidence can be a lengthy process which is frustrating as the sooner the problem gets sorted, the less money and time you will have to spend on treating the problem.

How to repair subsidence problems

How to treat subsidence

Actually treating the problem of subsidence can be the most lengthy and distressful stage of the whole process if the issue goes unnoticed for some time.

The process of underpinning the entire structure may have to be implemented in the most severe cases which can cost homeowners thousands of pounds. The majority of properties with subsidence will not need to be fixed with such extreme lengths but it is always best to get your home thoroughly assessed. Although underpinning is a costly fix, the likelihood of subsidence is usually minimal, which will help towards insuring your property. Insuring a property with subsidence can be arduous although there are now many comparison websites which research the best deals for you.

Roots causing subsidence problem

In terms of tree roots, you will need the advice of an expert as to whether removing the roots from under the property will be a quick solution or a detriment to the project. Over the years, major root networks will have shifted the soil to create space. Once the roots are taken away, this space may soon fill up with water, which will add to your structural problems.

Another cause of unwanted water under your home is a burst or leaking pipe. Once this problem is determined, mending this can be a quick fix.

 

 

 

What Is a Walkout Basement?

Thinking about renovating your basement?  Does your home sit on a sloped lot?  Maybe you should consider creating a walkout basement for your home.

Most basements are not put to use.  Either they weren’t created for living use (low ceiling height, unfinished floors, etc), and other times the conditions down there don’t lend themselves to human habitation (leaky walls, mold, lots of spiders, etc)

Basements, as the name suggests, are areas beneath the main structure that you can walk in and out of without using stairs. Ideally, they have windows and allow access on level ground. In this case, some people also call them daylight basements. If you are fortunate enough to have one (and there is sufficient head height) you can legally use it as living space and benefit from these other advantages:

  • Added value to your home at far less than the cost of a room upstairs
  • A more attractive proposition should you decide to sell some day

A walkout basement is usually only achievable when the property has sufficient slope to allow for it. Unless constructed at the same time as the house, part of it may end up below ground with concomitant damp problems. Ideally there should be sufficient slope on the rear side of the home to accommodate it. This obviates the risk of the approach-side of the house appearing architecturally awkward.

While it’s ideal to create a walkout basement when originally constructing the home, often times it didn’t fit the budget, or just wasn’t in the plans with the original construction.  When creating a walkout basement on an existing home, you’ll want to make sure:

  •  Waterproofing protection is incorporated during the construction process
  •   Foundation support are maintained to accoodate the new design
  •   The new design is in harmony with your existing home

While creating a walkout basement can be expensive, the value from the added living space will add value to your home that wasn’t there before.  In Toronto, there is a lack of available property, so homeowners are looking to make the most of the property they already have.  A walkout basement is a perfect fit to add an entire floor of living space to your home.

While this sort of renovation can be costly, it is often possible to stagger these costs on a site that slopes away from the access point. In this case, it may be feasible to leave the raw walkout basement structure unfinished, and complete fitting it out when funds become available. In this event it is vital to ensure two things.

  • There must be legal head height after allowing for ceiling space.  This is accomplished by lowering your basement.
  • The walkout basement must have waterproofing for its design life.

This is because it is often impossible to retrofit access to the inner wall, and to repair leakage afterwards. Builders seldom understand these things, which is why you should consult an expert.