Victor Chirilas, Operations Manager at Mainmark UK, explores how unstable foundations can impact safety, performance and the operation of your manufacturing business

The summer of 2018 will be remembered for a six-week spell when temperatures in parts of the country consistently topped 30C (86F). Following the record-breaking summer, the insurance world is currently faced with a ‘subsidence surge’ after receiving an unusually large number of subsidence related claims. The heatwave played havoc with many buildings due to the sustained warm weather causing water from subsoils to dry out, resulting in shrinkage.

Between 2016/17, 184,000 homes were built in England.1 During this time, hundreds of homes and buildings across Britain were severely damaged, following extreme weather conditions including heatwaves, flash floods and sub-zero temperatures.

Ever get that sinking feeling? You could be dealing with a case of subsidence. Affecting a buildings foundations and footings, it occurs in response to changes in the ground or the movement of soil.

Cracks in walls, close to doorways and windows, and sloping or sinking floors are often early indicators that a building has foundation problems that could be the result of subsidence. This can happen for many reasons, including neighbouring construction affecting a building’s integrity or when soil becomes too wet or too dry, which will affect the foundation structure.

Cracks in walls, close to doorways and windows, and sloping or sinking floors are often early indicators that a building has foundation problems that could be the result of subsidence. This can happen for many reasons, including neighbouring construction affecting a building’s integrity or when soil becomes too wet or too dry, which will affect the foundation structure.

Mainmark’s UK team has done a great job remediating this London home suffering significant cracking due to subsidence. Thanks to renowned property expert and TV presenter Sarah Beeny for filming and sharing this project.

As most property developers will know, fixing subsidence issues was historically considered both challenging and costly. This is why those involved in property development are careful when taking on a property that is showing the common signs of subsidence including cracked walls and uneven floors.

Mainmark gives advice to estate agents and landlords about why building foundations sink and the advanced repair solutions now available.

Cracking walls and uneven floors are usually symptoms of a deeper problem. Many structural issues are the result of unstable ground or subsidence, so understanding what’s happening in the ground will help to identify the cause of any structural issues that are happening to the building itself. Different soil types in particular give rise to different problems and require different solutions.

Mainmark gives advice about why building foundations sink and the advanced repair solutions now available.

Between 2016/17, 184,000 homes were built in England. During this time, hundreds of homes and buildings across Britain were severely damaged, following extreme weather conditions including heatwaves, flash floods and sub-zero temperatures. According to conservation charity, WWF, the impact of such conditions is estimated to have cost the British economy tens of billions of pounds; this could increase even more by 2050, particularly if buildings continue to be constructed on flood plains.