How do engineers identify damage caused by foundation movement?
Professional Engineers usually make judgments concerning whether cracks and other forms of damage or distress are due to foundation movement using their knowledge of structural mechanics, the engineering characteristics of building materials and their experience in inspecting hundreds and sometimes tens of thousands of homes. There are two points that should be recognized at the outset. If the damage is minor, such as a few hairline cracks, it is very difficult to say definitively what caused the damage. On the other hand, if the damage is severe, such as, say, th wide cracks in the drywall, the damage is almost certainly due to structural distortion. The problem is with the houses in between. The following are some rules of thumb published by the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Building Research Department in the United Kingdom.
