Engineer Reports for Wall Cracks & Subsidence - What Do I get?
๐ ๐ง๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ; ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐
The building & Pest Report had identified a few small brick wall cracks & some slope in the floor that did not appear to be too serious, but just to be safe, he recommended that the buyer contacted Forensic Engineers to do an inspection and report.
๐๐๐๐จ ๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ญ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ช๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐จ๐;
๐ฏ.๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ
- Left side wall โbendingโ
- Bed 1 front wall, partial rendering done
- Garage left entry gap
- Bath wall cracks & window reveal gap
- Bed 3 wall cracks & window reveal gap
- Kitchen wall crack
- Rear patio column lean
- Rear patio slab settlements of the rear-left corner & cracks
- Dining/living wall corner crack filled
- Living window reveal gap
- West wall window reveal gaps filled
- Living wall crack
- Bed 2 wall cracks under sill
- Bed 2/garage wall corner crack filled
- Garage rear wall crack over door
- Widespread variations in mortar shades
๐ฏ.๐ฎ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ
- Garage floor slab cracks & west edge slab dampness
- Hallway/toilet ceiling cornice cracks
- Hallway/bed 2 ceiling cornice crack
- Living window architrave tension gaps
๐ฐ.๐ฌ ๐๐๐ข๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ฆ
*Test locations are approximate. Carpet & underlay depths varied from room to room & carpet wear affected readings.
The findings show that there have been differential settlements of the house slab. Specifically, there is visible bending of the left wall, caused by settlements of the rear and front-left corner.
๐ฑ.๐ฌ ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ
๐ฑ.๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐.
In this case, it is likely that original estate development civil works resulted in placement of loose landfill on sections of the block. It is apparent that consolidation of soft/loose soils under some areas of the slab have caused settlements, floor level variations and damages.
Ground movements, and particularly differential settlements have caused the slab level variations and the damages identified.
๐ฒ.๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ
๐ฒ.๐ญ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ณ
The floor level variations and house damages have been caused by ground movements - particularly differential settlements. There is no urgency to do so, but assurance of stability and some reasonable correction of floor level variations would require some underpinning.
๐ฒ.๐ฎ ๐จ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด
We have illustrated the approximate underpinning locations (see yellow highlights on sketch), subject to the design engineerโs input.
We estimate that conventional underpinning utilizing reinforced concrete piers & headstocks would involve approximately 15 underpins.
A reasonable industry rate for underpinning would be approximately $2,500 - $3,500 per underpin location, but this may vary, subject to engineerโs design.
Establishment & general repair & clean-up costs also apply
๐ฒ.๐ฏ ๐จ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐
Underpinning Contractors should be well established Registered Repair Builders who do all of the repairs and do not use subcontractors for any repair work;
๐ฒ.๐ฐ ๐ง๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐จ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด
As advised...
๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ง๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐ค๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ ๐ก๐๐
The impression was that the house had undergone some subsidence and had some "normal" wall cracks, and it looked like it was not serious.
But our thorough investigation found that the house was not stable at all, and ongoing settlements were causing the house slab to bend in the long direction (front-to back). And it was getting worse.
๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป, ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐น๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ!
๐๐ญ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ & ๐๐๐ค๐ง๐ค๐ช๐๐
Our subsidence investigations call on decades of soil testing experience. And we meticulously examine the building for gaps and cracks.
๐๐ก๐ค๐ค๐ง ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ก ๐๐ช๐ง๐ซ๐๐ฎ โ ๐๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ!
We always take a floor level survey which is Absolutely Essential for any subsidence and wall crack investigation.
Any respectable engineer subsidence report has to include a floor level survey. Without it, it is impossible to identify and interpret footing and slab movements and particularly, the severity and influence of house damages.
Subsidence & Wall Cracks: Underpinning Free Home Assessment was Wrong
Do I Need a Structural Engineer Report? Absolutely!
๐ฃ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ ๐ต๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ โ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐๐จ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐ก๐ค๐ค๐ง ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐?
๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ โ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ!!
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐ต๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ โ ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐??
๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ต๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ โ ๐ฝ๐ค๐ฎ-๐ค๐-๐๐ค๐ฎ โ ๐พ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐ฃ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐จ!!!
COOMERA WATERS SUBSIDENCE DAMAGE
SUBSIDENCE, WALL CRACKS, STRUCTURAL ENGINEER REPORT.
Home owners, buyers and sellers with house subsidence or wall crack problems
Which Underpinning is Best?
๐ช๐๐๐๐ ๐ง๐ฌ๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง?
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ย is determined is determined by
- the building type
- the ground conditions
- achievable results
- accessibility
- and affordability.ย
๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ง ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ : Get an independent opinion
The different Underpinning methods, costs and achievable results are very confusing. That's where Forensic Engineers can help. Before signing up for any type of expensive underpinning, do yourself a favour and contact Forensic Engineers for an expert, independent structural engineer report. Because we are on your side..
๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐: ๐ช๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต ๐จ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐?
- Reinforced concrete pier underpinning is the industry standard due to the practicality and long-term reliability.
- Polyurethane Resin Underpinning can be very effective for densifying and binding founding soils and lifting footings and concrete slabs. It is important that the Resins are injected throughout the soil profile layers that are causing any footing and slab settlements, and not just immediately under the footings and slab. Also, certain footing and slab designs and certain ground conditions may limit the results of Polyurethane Resin Underpinning.
- Steel screw piers have benefits where ground water and collapsible soils are encountered, as well as cases where extra deep piers are needed to find strong natural ground. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐จ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ have extensive experience in all types of underpinning and will install the industry standard reinforced ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐, or ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐, if and when required, and at a realistic cost.
๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐: ๐๐ผ๐ ๐บ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎn Independent ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ Subsidence ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐?
The base industry cost in South-East Queensland is around $๐ด๐ฌ๐ฌ.๐ฌ๐ฌ-$๐ต๐ฌ๐ฌ.๐ฌ๐ฌ,ย depending on the house size and the property location.
Forensic Engineers have decades of Soil Testing experience, so we know what kinds of ground conditions can cause footing and slab movements. And we are 100% independent. Forensic Engineers are the subsidence and underpinning specialists, and when we inspect your home and prepare an engineer report, ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ.
๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐: ๐๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ฑ Unnecessary ๐จ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ
In many cases, footings and slabs can be stabilized without resorting to any expensive & stressful underpinning at all. And excessive footing movements can often be reduced by following expert advice. Talk to Forensic Engineers for the best solutions!
Subsidence & wall cracks? Before jumping into expensive underpinning, contact Forensic Engineers for an expert, independent structural engineer report.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐: ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฒ๐-๐ด๐ผ!
Contact FORENSIC ENGINEERS for an expert RPEQ Engineer Report for subsidence, wall cracks and underpinning. ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ% ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ.
Servicing Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and surrounds. Contact us today for a chat about about subsidence and a quote for an engineer investigation and report.
Home Owner Saved Thousands on Underpinning
Structural Engineer Underpinning Report:
Thinking of underpinning? Contact us for an Expert Structural Engineer Report.
We Are Independent and We Aren't Trying to Sell You Anything.
Strata and Body Corp RPEQ Engineer Reports, Wall Cracks, Subsidence, Underpinning
๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฝ & ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐!
In this recent case, the Body Corp called us in to investigate and report on this townhouse with subsidence and wall cracks and gaps that were getting worse and worse.
It turned out that other engineers had previously looked at the building and had decided that subsidence had occurred in the past and had stopped and and the damages were not serious and could be patched and painted. Sadly, they were wrong.
CALL FORENSIC ENGINEERS!
Forensic Engineers has decades of Soil Testing & Geotechnincal experience. And becsue of that, we identified that the townhouse was actually located on ๐น๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐น that was gradually ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด, bit-by-bit, year after year. And stabilization with ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
In this case, Resin / Chemical Underpinning was not considered appropriate and Steel Screw piers would be far too expensive and unnecessary.
The most reliable and cost effective method was with conventional underpinning using reinforced concrete piers and head-stocks.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฝ & ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐.
- Our service is first class
- Quotes in hours
- Decades of soil testing experience
- Inspections and reports in days not weeks.
- Very competitive rates.
- REPQ engineer reports
O๐๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ RPEQ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ, ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ, ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ% ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐.
Polyurethane Resin Injection Underpinning? Slab Lifting Required
This Gymnasium floor is out-of-level and keeps on moving.
Our Structural Engineer investigation found the building is on Brisbane River compressible river alluvial soils. And that they are constantly, gradually subsiding.
Also, flood events and saturation of the founding soils also exacerbate the subsidence.
After a thorough investigation, our RPEQ Structural Engineer Report recommended ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐จ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป for re-establisment of an even floor surface.
There are a number of Companies offering Urethane Resin solutions for slab settlements and footing subsidence.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐น๐ ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ, ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐น. Depending the type of construction and the ground conditions and most importantly, The Experience of the Company doing the work.
If you are considering Resin Injection Underpinning, it is advisable to get an independent engineer report first.
Expert RPEQ Structural Engineer Reports: Forensic Engineers.
Subsidence Engineer Reports, Soil Testing Experience Required
๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐-๐ผ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ผ๐ถ๐น ๐ง๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ & ๐ช๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐.
Very Important: When deciding on an engineer for a subsidence & wall crack inspection, make sure the engineers have actual experience in field and lab soil testing themselves. Amazingly, very few engineers in S.E. Qld that offer wall crack & subsidence reports have any hands-on experience with soil testing.
๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐;
- soil test drilling
- soil lab testing
- soil descriptions
- site classifications
- footing and slab designs; strip, pad and edge beam footings, conventional and waffle pod slabs
- deep footing piers, conventional concrete piers, push-piles, small diameter driven timber piles and steel screw piles
- Foundation Underpinning; conventional concrete, polyurethane resin, timber piles and steel screw piers.
๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ -๐๐-๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
- areas with highly plastic clay soils
- poorly compacted land fill
- alluvial deposits
- compressible soils
- organic soils
- acid-sulphate soils.
- marine clays
๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐-๐ผ๐ป ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ; real soil testing knowledge and skills.
It is essential that any engineers offering subsidence reports actually have local Queensland experience in soil testing and geotechnical behavior.
With over 5000 cases completed in the last 12 years. And before that, decades of actual Geotechnical / Soil Testing, Site Classification and Slab Design hands-on experience, Forensic Engineers are the best choice for RPEQ Structural Engineer Reports for subsidence and house foundation problems.
Subsidence, Wall Cracks, Sink Holes, Stump Damage
Structural Engineer Reports needed from Forensic Engineers.
These are cases we deal with every day.
Case 1) A house at Warner had serious settlements under a slab. We found the causes, assessed the slab condition and gave expert recommendations to re-support the slab. In this case pressure grouting was the most practical and affordable repair.
Case 2) A Tweed Heads house with possibly serious subsidence problems. We found that there had been some footing settlements a long time ago, but the house was now stable. Some drainage work and expert crack repair required - no underpinning needed! A terrific result.
Case 3) Walloon house with serious slab movements. We are in Walloon just about every week! If you are looking to buy a house in this area and the Building & Pest Report finds wall cracks - for peace-of-mind, call us to arrange an Expert Structural Engineer Report. In most cases there are some movements of the house footings and site works can help to keep the house relatively stable. In other cases where serious movements and damages are evident, traditional underpinning is the most effective method for stabilization, level correction and crack closure.
Case 4) A house on-the-market at Stafford. The buyer was concerned that damaged stumps have caused structural damages to the house. Our expert investigation found that apart from some stumps that were past their "use-by" date, the house was "sound-as-a pound".
