Buildings subsidence due to clay ‘shrink-swell': UK research highlights link to weather and consequences for insurers
Will home owners get that sinking feeling this summer?
Are we in for a summer of cracked buildings? It all depends on the weather. Research from the British Geological Survey (BGS) has highlighted the importance of rainfall and temperature on the incidence of clay shrink-swell, a precursor to subsidence, in the UK. For many, the cool, wet conditions we have experienced so far this summer may be just what is needed to keep their house in order.