Subsidence, need a little advice

[AndyTR]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 15 June 2019 at 18:53

[Drumroll]

Before looking at the "cure" you need to know what the problem is. Could it be a collapsed pipe, wash out, ground heave, root damage, foundation failure, the list goes on, all will require a different solution.

[Lotobear]

Clay or sandy/granular sub soil?

[Lotobear]

Then if that represents the actual bearing strata (ie it's not just overburden or imported fill to make up levels) it is unlikely to be the trees unless tree roots have infiltrated a drain causing it to leak

I would looking at drains - are there any drains or gulleys near to the corner of your house?

Sandy sub soils are susceptible to fines 'wash out' from leaking drains causing loss of soil volume below foundations and corresponding movement.

Dig a trial hole to expose the foundation in the area of interest to establish the precise nature of the material which the foundation is bearing upon

PS: how steep is the slope/banking and how old is the property - pics would help?

[Tired_Peter]

Just my 2 cents....I think it would be better to get a professional in to look at the issue. A sudden drop causing cracks across a couple of rooms could be quite severe.

We can only guess the issues from the other side of our screens but someone physically there could spot something else that none of us have thought of.

[TwistingMyMelon]

photos might help

[megaphone]

It's a bit late now but... don't get the insurance involved yet. It will cost you £1000 excess and it will whack up your premiums. It will blight the house for years, other insurers will not touch it, it will make selling more difficult.

I would have got an expert in first to take a look and advise.

[SAB888]

AndyTR said:

We have a large 100 year old Yew tree to the side of the house but a decent distance from the property and the closest branches are 4-5 meters from the house.

Root systems can be more than twice the canopy size of a tree.

[fatboy b]

megaphone said:

It's a bit late now but... don't get the insurance involved yet. It will cost you £1000 excess and it will whack up your premiums. It will blight the house for years, other insurers will not touch it, it will make selling more difficult.

I would have got an expert in first to take a look and advise.

It doesn’t whack up your premiums.

We had a claim about 12 years ago. We were paying £55 a month for buildings and contents. It went up to £56.30 a month at the following annual renewal. Even now we’re only paying £73 a month, so that’s a ‘whacking’ £216 a year increase in 12 years, and only £15.60 a year increase after the claim.

Try to switch companies, now that’s the difficult bit. Luckily ours haven’t taken the pi55.

[Easternlight]

Any history of mining of any type in the area?
Sudden movement in a house that hasn't moved for 20 years would have me in a hotel ASAP