Recent studies have shown that in the uk, an average of 70% of all insurance claims (those being valid claims) are due to subsidence. The ultimate responsibility of diagnosing and remedying a subsidence issue falls on the insurance companies. Insurers are required to 地盤沈下 株式会社西川 take immediate steps in resolving these issues for the best interests of the homeowner and the company themselves, these situations are often inconvenient and if left untreated, can become costly.
For this reason the Clay Research Group (CRG) was developed, their aim being to aid insurers by researching and furthering our understanding subsidence, its ground movement and developing new, innovative technologies used in the battle against subsidence. It is estimated that these new technologies will reduce subsidence investigation cost by around £1000.
The first thing that insurers will do will be to send out a structural engineer or a surveyor. Initial inspections will be carried out visually, assessing the potential cause, risk level and whether or not it poses a threat to the occupants. From this, the surveyor/engineer will be able to decide whether any immediate works are required. Defining a subsidence issue in its beginning stages reduces the amount of work required as well as the costs.
The next stage involved monitoring the situation. Using computer controlled level and tilt monitoring equipment, the severity of the problem can be established. Cracks internally and externally can provide some idea as to the extent of the buildings movement and can also allow predictions to be made with regards how much more damage will be caused. This is especially important when monitoring historical and structurally suspect buildings. However, this cannot be relied upon alone, various other steps need to be followed to discover the full extent of the movement.
This is where the process becomes disruptive. With subsidence being the problem it is, it’s essential that the cause is adequately evaluated. Typical steps which are undertaken at this point include; drilling bore-holes to test the soil (quality and moisture content), digging pits to reveal the foundations and employing a CCTV Drain Surveyor to check for any burst/leaking pipes. This is where the CRG’s technologies would be most beneficial. This stage is quite invasive and costly, what the CRG is trying to do it make it the complete opposite. With technologies like soil rehydration, manipulation of a trees hormones, advancements in molecular biology and electrokinesis being developed, who knows what the future of subsidence management will involve.
For those who have experienced subsidence in the past, you will already understand the disruption and costs behind this type of process, and how hard it is to get buildings insurance with subsidence afterwards. Most insurers base their assessment on the past as well as the present which causes problems, therefore leaving you classed as ‘high risk’. However, there are some insurance providers who base their assessments on the present, disregarding past problems. It is always best to shop around for the best deal on subsidence insurance and to find the right cover for your requirements.