Differential Settlement

"Differential settlement" means one part of a building foundation moves at a different rate or for a different amount than other parts of the foundation or wall. Differential settlement can damage the foundation or wall with cracks and other symptoms of wall movement. These cracks can run generally up and down or in a stair step fashion (up then over, then up, then over, and so on).

These cracks can appear at anytime during a home's life. Sometimes they appear right after a house is built and the soil is compacting or shifting with the new weight on top of this. This can be indicative of shortcuts taken during construction — either with the piers or with the fill dirt or site preparation.

Problems later on are signs of soil expansion and contraction. As we've discussed before, soil expansion and contraction is a result of uneven moisture content and frequency.

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