Q: Hi,

On Saturday, neighbor informed me that it had cracks in its walls just below the ceiling on one side of her house (my side is a terrace), and a gap running down the stairs on the skirtng . Her laminate floor has spaces between the boards now! Checked my house on Saturday and have almost same problems. Cracks in walls, baseboards and space in the spaces below edge of door frames. She has plastered walls and painted and have just noticed this gradually over the week. I didnt notice when I have paper in most walls.

Have called the insurance company and they are a loss adjuster to call me to advise the next step.

Has this happened to someone, or someone you know?

Help, help, help

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A:It's more likely that these internal cracks have been there all the time as part of the drying out process that new builds go through, you've just not noticed them.

In general, if you had subsidence (of the site below the foundations) which is serious, you would expect to see cracking externally as well as inside. Terraces are no more or less prone to subsidence, their construction does not offer them any special protection.

Subsidence is normally due to external causes which are many and varied but often involve the presence of large trees close to the structure or broken and leaking drains, coupled with unstable soil conditions and (particularly in combination with trees) drought conditions.

If you fill the cracks, note that these cracks WILL reappear if you do not use a good quality flexible filler.

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A:Supposedly houses get cracks (why only in the last 2 weeks or so I will never know).

Houses do get cracks – and they have to appear sometime – so why not in the last two weeks?

I'm pleased for you though – it must be a weight off your mind

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A:Update …

Loss adjuster been out to visit and advised that there is no subsidence …. phew !! I have just to polyfilla cracks and thats that. Supposedly houses get cracks (why only in the last 2 weeks or so I will never know).

Neighbours loss adjuster is out next Monday so will see what he has to say to her .

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A:STOP LOOKING AT THE CRACKS!

You can't tell what, if anything is happening.

Buyu some rizlas and stick them across the cracks instead, and mark the ends with a pencil, that way you can tell if they are lengthening/widening.

Could be your founds moving, but could be nothing. Buildings move.

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A:Homecheck doesn't cover Scotland, unfortunately – I'm assuming that's where you are as you mentioned England & Wales?

Anyway, don't panic – although it's easier said than done. If there is something structural going on then your buildings insurance will cover it. Don't worry about resale either – if a house is structurally sound, then it's fine. If it's not structurally sound then you have insurance in place.

Try calling them again and get the name of the person you spoke to, which always helps.

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A:Contacted Insurance company yesterday morning and they advised that a loss adjuster would contact me within 24 hours … surprise, surprise no phone call. Called them again. They are going to call loss adjuster direct and advise them to call me. Wish they would hurry up.

Getting obsessed with the walls now. Having a look for cracks every waking hour (even when on the loo !!!! ).

Have asked a couple of neighbours on either side of the road and they do not seem to have any problems, so must just be my terrace.

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A:Have tried homecheck and doesnt recognise the postcode, so I am guessing it must just be for England & Wales.

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A:Go to www.homecheck.co.uk and type in your postcode. The site will give you an indication of whether there is likely to be a history of mining or subsidence in your area.

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A:I am mid terrace, as is the neighbour, you could say on a hill, house is approx 28 years old. Neighbours insurance company advises her that it could be because of new builds down the road, could be moving the earth when they are building foundations.

I know if there is a problem then Insurance should cover it, but I am more worried about resale !!

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A:Don't panic just yet!
Is it a new house or how old any history of mining or subsidence in the area?

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A:What is the situation of your house – i.e. is it on a hill, built on clay?

When my walls started to develop cracks (actually found to be blown plaster in the end) someone advised me to mark the end of the cracks with a pencil mark and the date, so I could see if/how fast the cracks were growing. Can't hurt to do this.

Is her house end of terrace? Are you mid terrace? The more houses you are attached to, the less your house is likely to shift…in theory….

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