After one of the hottest summers on record, followed by heavy rainfall and storms, many properties are at risk of subsidence and long-term structural damage from ground movement. Homeowners invest hundreds if not thousands into their homes, so the last thing anyone wants is to have to move out or shell out thousands because of a structural issue.
Ground strengthening specialists, Mainmark, have warned homeowners to keep an eye out for new cracks and monitor the size of older ones to know when the damage is serious and action is needed.
Mark McDonagh, operations manager at Mainmark explained that when there is a heatwave or hot weather, the soil and ground underneath the building excessively dries out which can lead to subsidence depending on the type of soil and where you live in the UK.
Subsidence is when the ground shrinks and the movement pulls the property downwards slightly. Cracks are one of the “first and most obvious” indicators of this movement.
He continued: “Given the significantly warm summer we have just experienced, we are encouraging everyone to record visible cracks, new and old, regularly. So we have introduced our crack gauge for an easy and guided way to monitor cracks around the home.
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Subsidence can also make a property harder to sell, and increase the cost of insurance premiums significantly if left to worsen.
However, not every wall crack is serious or indicates an issue; many UK houses and properties will have cracks, particularly new builds as buildings “settle”.
The expert added: “But all cracks should be monitored over time, as they are the biggest warning sign of severe foundation damage, along with jammed doors or windows, or sinking floors.”
Mark has shared the three signs to look out for that indicate property cracks are serious and need to be addressed.
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Large cracks that start at windows, doorways or corners of buildings
Mark said cracks that indicate a significant issue tend to form in these areas first.
The cracks may not be as obvious as ones in the middle of the ceiling or in a very noticeable spot, so checking routinely for cracks in these areas is “essential”.
Cracks are wider than about 5mm
Cracks wider than 5mm or about half a centimetre that form quickly are a cause for concern. However, a one millimetre crack that has been the same for three years is not a big worry.
Mark added: “But one that is 0.5cm is a red flag for property owners, as the building will require further investigation and action when they are of this significant size.”
Cracks that are jagged
Homeowners also need to look out for cracks that are jagged, horizontal or vertical, zig-zagged, stepped-in brickwork, or follow mortar lines.
Most properties in the UK are plastered internally or wallpapered so these cracks can sometimes be a bit hidden.
As soon as a jagged or zig-zag crack is visible, consult professional advice or alert a landlord as soon as possible.
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