Have you noticed sloping or sinking floors in any part of your house? Do you see zigzag patterned cracks in walls, unlevelled concrete slabs on driveways, pathways, or doors and windows getting jammed or misaligned? Are there too many puddles formed around the house’s perimeter that are causing concern? All of the above are strong indicators of concrete sinking due to subsidence.

When does subsidence occur:

Subsidence occurs when the soil beneath a building structure starts to shrink or collapse, carrying the structure’s foundations along with it. Several reasons make specific homes more vulnerable to this issue than others. These include:

1.Dry soil beneath the foundation in drought-prone regions

2.The presence of reactive clay in soil, can also damage foundations 

3.Excessive shrubs and large trees around the house can dry out the soil underneath footings

4.Excessive dampness can soften and decrease the bearing capacity of the soil. 

The urgency for fixing subsidence;

The subsidence issue should preferably be addressed quickly to stop it from causing serious structural damage on your home. Concrete levelling should also be maintained around on the exterior areas of your home, or it can cause a serious trip hazard, particularly for family members with mobility issues such as children or elderly parents.

Besides impacting the structural stability of your home’s foundation, subsidence can have a serious impact on the resale value of your property if corrective measures are not undertaken. Research indicates your property value may be reduced by 20% or more, depending upon the severity of subsidence in your home.

How to resolve subsidence

The best action course is to contact relevant professionals who can assess the reasons for the sinking concrete and suggest remedial solutions. It’s essential, however, to take every measure to prevent the occurrence of subsidence as if left untreated this can cause costly structural damage!