Sevenoaks area
Greensand, clay and tree roots under Sevenoaks homes
Send a description of what you have noticed in your home. A specialist will read it and tell you whether the ground conditions around Sevenoaks warrant a visit. There is no charge for this first look.
In your area
Ground movement enquiries taken in Sevenoaks
Homes on the greensand ridge and the Weald Clay below it face particular pressures from shifting moisture and deep tree roots. Enquiries from Sevenoaks are passed to firms that work across Kent and understand these local geologies.
- Hythe Beds over Weald Clay
- Sandstone layers sit above shrinkable clay. When the clay dries and contracts, the sand above can settle unevenly beneath foundations.
- Steep plots and slopes
- Many houses in Sevenoaks are built on gradients where surface water drains toward one side, concentrating moisture changes near footings.
- Heavy tree cover
- Mature oaks and beeches extract large volumes of water from the clay. Roots can extend well beyond the canopy spread.
- Protected trees
- Tree preservation orders limit what owners can prune or remove, so any remedy must account for the tree staying in place.
Working out how soon to act on a crack
A line in the plaster does not name its own cause. The question is how quickly you should ask someone to look at it. Only an inspection by a specialist settles what is actually happening below the floor level.
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Doors that jammed shut this summer but worked fine last yearToday
Seasonal clay shrinkage may be pulling a frame out of square. Tree roots extracting moisture from Weald Clay often cause this pattern in dry spells.
What to do Ask for an assessment before the wet season masks the movement.
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A diagonal crack wider than a coin near a window cornerSoon
Cracks tapering from a point usually indicate differential settlement. On greensand ridges, washout or clay heave are common explanations.
What to do Record the width with a date and request a visit.
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Gaps opening between the skirting board and the floorWorth watching
Timber floors settling independently of masonry walls can open these gaps. It may reflect minor drying rather than foundation failure.
What to do Mark the gap edges with pencil and check monthly.
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Patio slabs tilting away from the house wallSoon
External paving moves when the ground beneath it loses support. Surface water running off roofs often softens the subsoil first.
What to do Check downpipes for leaks and note the tilt direction.
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Fine hairline cracks appearing after nearby building workWorth watching
Vibration from heavy machinery or excavation can disturb shallow soils. Hairlines often close again once the work stops.
What to do Photograph them weekly to see if they stay static.
Nothing here diagnoses a specific home. If a crack has appeared suddenly or is widening week by week, ask about it now rather than waiting.
What specialists do about ground movement
Each situation calls for a different approach. The right method depends on what the soil investigation reveals about the depth and cause of the problem beneath your home.
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Subsidence Help
A specialist inspects the damage, identifies the cause in the soil and plans the sequence of repairs needed to stabilise the home.
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Underpinning
Where foundations must go deeper to reach stable strata, a contractor excavates sections and pours new concrete bases beneath the existing ones.
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Resin Injection
A technician pumps expanding structural resin into voids or weak ground to compact the soil and lift settled areas back toward level.
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Concrete Cracking
A firm assesses cracked slabs and drives to determine whether the substrate has failed or the concrete itself needs repair or replacement.
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Screw Piling
An installer drives steel helical piles into load-bearing ground to support bay windows, porches or extensions without mass excavation.
Towns covered across Kent
Enquiries are accepted from anywhere in the county. Firms operating in Kent handle ground conditions ranging from coastal chalk to inland clay, so the same process applies wherever your home stands.
- Sevenoaks
- Sheerness
- Sittingbourne
If your town is missing from this list, send an enquiry anyway. Kent-wide coverage means it will still be reviewed.
Tell us what you have noticed
Write down what you can see and where it is in your home. The details go to a specialist who will say whether a site visit makes sense. You are not agreeing to any work by sending this.
- No obligation to proceed
- Free initial review
- Read by a specialist