Most houses have a few hairline cracks, and many are nothing to worry about. But some cracks are a sign that the ground beneath your home is moving. So knowing the difference, and acting early, can save a lot of stress and money. This guide explains the warning signs and how subsidence repairs in Lincolnshire work.
Cracks that are usually harmless
Drying shrinkage or normal seasonal movement often causes fine hairline cracks in plaster, especially in new plaster or where walls meet ceilings. Usually, you can then fill and decorate them.
Warning signs of foundation movement
- Diagonal cracks, often wider at one end, running from the corners of windows and doors
- Stepped cracks following the mortar joints in external brickwork
- Cracks wider than a few millimetres, or cracks that are growing
- Doors and windows that suddenly start sticking
- Gaps opening between walls and floors or ceilings
- Extensions or bays pulling away from the main house
Common causes
For example, clay soils shrink in dry summers and swell in wet winters, and trees nearby can draw moisture from the ground. Similarly, leaking drains can wash away or soften soil, and shallow foundations on older properties can be more vulnerable. In fact, ground conditions vary a lot across Lincolnshire, from clays to softer fenland silts.
What to do first
- Don’t panic. Movement may have stopped long ago.
- Monitor the cracks. Mark the ends and date them, or use a crack monitor, and take photos.
- Contact your buildings insurer if you suspect subsidence, as many policies cover it.
- Get a structural engineer to assess the cause and recommend a solution.
How subsidence repairs in Lincolnshire work
Of course, the fix depends on the cause. Sometimes repairing a leaking drain or managing a nearby tree is enough. Where foundations need strengthening, options include deepening or extending them, often called underpinning, or other engineered solutions. Once the structure is stable, we can repair cracks with stitching ties and repoint the brickwork.
Expert structural work
Our structural renovations team carries out foundation upgrades, structural repairs and alterations, working to your engineer’s design and with building control. We work across Skegness, Boston, Horncastle, Woodhall Spa and beyond.
Subsidence repairs in Lincolnshire should always follow a proper investigation of the cause. The Institution of Structural Engineers can help you find a qualified structural engineer.
Concerned about cracks in your home? Contact us for a free, no-obligation assessment and quote.