Emergency Subsidence Response
If your property is at immediate risk from subsidence, we provide rapid assessment and emergency stabilization across Dorset. Time is critical when structural movement is active — the sooner professional help arrives, the more options are available and the lower the eventual repair cost.
Our emergency response team understands the urgency. We prioritise emergency cases and aim to have an assessor at your property as quickly as possible, often the same day for critical situations.
When to Request Emergency Help
Not all subsidence requires an emergency response — gradual cracking that develops over weeks or months can usually be assessed during a standard appointment. However, certain situations demand immediate professional attention because they indicate rapid structural movement that could worsen quickly if left unaddressed.
Cracks Appearing or Widening Rapidly
If you can see cracks growing over hours or days rather than weeks, this suggests active structural movement. Mark the ends of cracks with pencil and note dates — this information helps our assessor understand the rate of movement.
Visible Structural Movement or Wall Bulging
If walls are visibly leaning, bowing, or bulging outward, the structure may be at risk of partial collapse. Evacuate the area immediately and do not attempt to shore up the wall yourself.
Sudden Floor Sinking or Sloping
A floor that suddenly drops or tilts may indicate a void opening beneath the foundations. This is particularly common in areas with historic mining or quarrying activity, or where drainage collapse has washed away soil.
Doors or Windows Jamming Suddenly
If doors or windows that previously worked fine suddenly jam or cannot be closed, the surrounding structure is distorting. This is often one of the first signs of rapid differential movement.
Drainage Collapse Causing Ground Instability
A collapsed drain can wash away soil supporting your foundations at an alarming rate, especially during heavy rainfall. Signs include sinkholes in the garden, sudden wet patches, or the ground feeling soft and spongy near the building.
What to Do While You Wait
After you have contacted us and while you wait for our assessor to arrive, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself and your property. These actions can also help our team when they arrive by providing valuable information about the situation.
Ensure Personal Safety
If there is any risk of structural collapse, evacuate the affected area. Do not enter rooms where ceilings are sagging or walls are visibly moving. Keep children and pets away from the affected part of the building.
Document Everything
Take photographs and videos of all visible damage from multiple angles. If cracks are growing, mark their ends with pencil and note the date and time. This record is invaluable for both our assessment and your insurance claim.
Contact Your Insurer
Notify your buildings insurance company as soon as possible. Most policies require prompt notification of potential subsidence. Note your claim reference number — we will need this when we liaise with your insurer.
Avoid DIY Fixes
Do not attempt to fill cracks, prop up walls, or carry out any structural repairs yourself. Well-meaning interventions can mask the true extent of damage and make professional assessment more difficult.
Our Emergency Response Process
When you contact us with an emergency, we follow an accelerated version of our standard process. Speed and safety are the priorities — we aim to stabilize the situation first, then carry out a thorough investigation to determine the cause and plan permanent repairs.
Rapid Triage
We assess the severity of your situation over the phone and prioritise accordingly. Critical cases — where there is a risk to occupant safety — are treated with the highest urgency.
Same-Day Assessment
For urgent cases, we aim to have an experienced assessor at your property the same day. They will evaluate the structural condition, assess immediate risks, and recommend emergency stabilization measures if needed.
Emergency Stabilization
If the building needs immediate support, we can deploy temporary propping, shoring, and other stabilization measures to prevent further movement while permanent repairs are planned.
Insurance Notification
We immediately notify your insurer and provide a preliminary report on the situation. This gets the claims process moving in parallel with the emergency response.
Permanent Repair Planning
Once the immediate risk is managed, we carry out detailed investigations to determine the root cause and design a permanent repair solution, following our standard five-step process.
Emergency Coverage Areas
We provide emergency subsidence response across all of Dorset. Our central location in Weymouth means we can reach any part of the county quickly.