1st Associated Independent Surveyors say:  As part of our structural building surveys we often find cracking in the property.  The surveyor needs to establish whether they are long standing or progressive, then they are looking for the reasons behind them.  For example, problems with the soil, trees or the drainage system.

Define terms, subsidence, heave and settlement

You can have several types of cracks in your property such as vertical cracks, horizontal cracks, diagonal cracks but we really need to see them to be certain what they relate to.  To give you an example; horizontal cracks normally relate to wall tie failure (see sketch).

If the crack is wider at the top than the bottom that is subsidence.

Examples of Cracking Reports