Have you been clearing some land that is adjacent to your house in order to expand, to build a separate structure or just to take advantage of the view? If so, you may have opted to get rid of some mature trees (with permission of course) as part of the operation. As the dust has settled from this work, you may have been planning your next move when you suddenly noticed an issue with one of your exterior walls. What could this be?

Residual Outcome

Much will depend on the scale of your new problem, but if you have clear evidence of cracking, or can see that the underlying masonry is starting to spread in a "zigzag" fashion, then it looks as if the building foundation is in question. This type of evidence points to subsidence, but this may not be a coincidence and could well be related to your yard clearing work.

Why Buildings Shift

Usually, a building foundation is designed to last for a lifetime and contractors will exercise a lot of care during construction to ensure that it complies with the building code. If the contractor worked with engineers and inspectors carefully, then you should not see any settlement.

Nevertheless, if the building was built on a single slab with a minimal number of screw or concrete piles underneath, it can definitely be affected by external influences. For example, there could be a significant change in the soil water content if you have suffered through a particularly dry summer, leading to the risk of failure. Crucially, if you remove any sizeable element from nearby – like those mature trees – this can also cause the surrounding soil to shift and lead to potential subsidence.

Back from the Brink

In an ideal world, you should talk with a structural engineer first before engaging the arborist, but as the work has already been completed you have to live with the consequences. It's not necessarily the end of the world, however, as it is possible for underpinning services to help stabilise the foundation.

Remedies

Before you begin, you will need to bring in a consultant to reveal the extent of the problem. If the soil underneath is still moving, then you may have to introduce temporary measures to replace the original barrier. When ready, however, contractors will be able to introduce additional piles or inject a special resin into the soil to replace any cavities. You may even need a combined approach, but it will all depend on the individual circumstances.

Starting off

Get on the phone and bring in an engineering consultant to start the ball rolling.