How should an evaluation to decide whether structural repair is possible take place?
As soon as evidence is available that a structure is suffering from subsidence, various methods of monitoring can be adopted. These include measuring the movement and lengths of superstructure cracking, and/or monitoring the level of an individual structure utilising a fixed deep stable datum. If it is proved that ongoing movements are being recorded, then a site investigation should be carried out in order to confirm the nature and condition of the existing foundations supporting the structure, combined with subsoil retrieval and analysis to varying depths around an individual structure. This should generally reveal the cause of a subsidence problem and an Engineer/Surveyor should then decide upon the correct course of action. Wherever possible, experts should be consulted including specialist contractors.
