Early Detection of Subsidence is Critical for Infrastructure and Business

David Hedley is the Commercial & Infrastructure Lead at subsidence specialist Mainmark UK.

Subsidence presents potentially one of the most underestimated and costly risks to commercial properties and infrastructure. While many in these sectors won’t be strangers to the sub-structural issue, few are aware that failing to report subsidence issues early can result in excessive repair costs, considerable disruptions and even irreversible damage to vital structures.

Subsidence in Infrastructure and Business

For businesses, property owners and infrastructure managers looking to control costs where they can, taking a proactive stance on subsidence, early detection and reporting must be a priority.

Subsidence, the gradual sinking or shifting of the ground, can cause cracks in walls and floors, collapsing foundations, uneven surfaces and compromised structural integrity. When left untreated, its effects only worsen, often leading to more expensive repairs and in severe cases the collapse of key structures. Unfortunately, in commercial spaces like warehouses and office blocks, as well as our airports, bridges, roads and railways, subsidence issues are reported too late, resulting in high repair costs and often significant public disruption.

The Cost of Delay

Initial subsidence damage, if caught early, is typically a more cost-effective fix. This can be resolved using non-disruptive methods like resin injection technology which quickly and accurately strengthens structures, fills voids and relevels surfaces.

However, if the issue is ignored and allowed to develop, within just a few years the same case may require a more complex solution, such as underpinning, at a far higher price. In extreme cases where more extensive work is needed repair costs can exceed £250,000.

Delaying intervention doesn’t just increase the direct cost of repairs, its knock-on effect can also lead to additional problems such as business disruptions in warehouses and long-term road closures. Businesses and local authorities, whether dealing with financial pressures or not, don’t want to incur extra costs for repairs due to the subsidence risk being overlooked. Operation disruptions during the repairs process can also lead to lost revenue. In many areas the closures of roads or transport links such as rail tracks can cause big delays, congestion and negatively affect the local economy.

Catching Subsidence Early

Recently we were tasked with completing a slab stabilisation project for concrete pavements on two roads in Oxford city centre. We utilised our Teretek® Resin Injection methodology, which involved the injection of Teretek® material underneath the concrete slabs to stabilise them. Since the issue was identified early in the timeline, we were able to rectify the issue in a short two-week time frame with minimal impact on the travelling public and a limited cost to the local council. If the issue had been allowed to worsen over the years, it could have led to major potholes, road surface collapse, extended road closures, and substantially higher repair costs.

The solution to avoiding such an escalating financial burden lies in early reporting and management. Regular subsidence assessments must be a priority and while the initial inspection costs may seem high, they pale in comparison to the financial consequences of delayed repairs. Increasing awareness around the signs of subsidence within different settings is also key to ensuring quick action is taken. Cracks in walls or roads, uneven floors, doors and windows sticking, sagging or sinking foundations, and persistent pooling water are all early indicators of ground movement that requires urgent attention.

The Message is Simple

Subsidence is an issue that should never be ignored or left unchecked until it’s too late. While reporting subsidence issues early might appear as an extra expense, it’s the best step towards safeguarding commercial properties, maintaining infrastructure, and minimising future costs. The urgency of this issue must be recognised, and proactive steps must be taken to address subsidence before it escalates.