Signs of house subsidence and how to prevent it.

3 Ways to Prevent House Subsidence
In cases where cavities or minor cracks are found under the house, subsidence can be prevented as follows:

1. Install a soil erosion barrier.
If the cavity under the house is growing larger and soil is eroding, it can be prevented and repaired by filling the cavity with concrete slabs, precast slabs, foam panels, or smooth steel plates. The repair process begins by excavating the soil around the cavity to a depth greater than the soil under the house. Then, insert the material firmly into the soil (approximately 50-80 centimeters deep). A layer of brick can be added to further prevent soil from flowing into the cavity from the outside.

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2. Fill with soil and sand.
In the case of large cavities and early subsidence, the house can be prevented by filling with soil or sand. Excavate around the cracks to expose the cavity line, then compact the soil or inject water to push the sand in. Afterwards, fill the soil around the house to a height exceeding the cavity. While compacting the soil, be careful not to affect any pipes under the building or add weight to the house structure.

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3. Repairing wall joints.
In cases where no underground cavities are found... However, cracks are starting to appear in the house walls. A basic preventative measure is to fill the cracks with mortar. But for long-term prevention of subsidence, it's recommended to completely separate the wall joints, both inside and out, to prevent structural collapse. Afterward, fill the joints with a highly flexible material.

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3 Ways to Fix a Subsiding House
If the subsidence problem is too difficult to handle on your own, you should contact the responsible party, such as the housing project owner, for repairs or use the services of a specialist.

1. Contact the Project Owner
When buying a new house, the project owner or seller will guarantee the structure, ensuring the safety and quality of the building as legally agreed upon in the purchase and sale contract. Generally, this guarantee lasts at least 5 years, or as specified by law under the Civil and Commercial Code and the Land Act.

When signing the purchase and sale contract, the seller will clearly specify the terms and conditions to ensure responsibility for repairs in case of damage to any part of the house.

If the homeowner has not made any additions that violate the warranty, they can demand that the seller fix the subsidence problem. If the seller fails to do so, further action can be taken. Homeowners can report the incident to the Consumer Protection Board (CPB), file a civil lawsuit for damages, or file a criminal lawsuit for fraud.

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2. Consult a Construction Engineer
In the case of older houses or houses out of warranty, if the house is sinking, contact a specialized company or construction engineer to analyze the cause and find a solution. This may involve excavating the ground to repair the foundation or using reinforcing columns to support the sinking side of the house.

There are many ways to repair a sinking house, depending on the nature and severity of the problem. Therefore, it is not advisable to use the services of general contractors, as they are not experts and may not be able to fix the problem correctly.

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3. House Jacking for Foundation Adjustment
In cases of severe ground subsidence or foundation damage beyond repair, there is another method to solve the sinking problem without demolition: house jacking. This involves cutting the house from its original foundation, lifting it until it is elevated, then removing and replacing the foundation before reattaching the house to the new foundation.

However, house jacking is very expensive, and the larger and heavier the house, the more difficult the procedure becomes. And it must be carried out only by a professional company to ensure safety.

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The most sustainable solution for a pond in the backyard to prevent future house subsidence is the three methods mentioned above. Importantly, when a problem is discovered, it should be addressed urgently to prevent the subsidence from spreading and becoming difficult and costly to fix.

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Thank you for the valuable information from DD Property.