The possibility of a sinkhole near your home can be scary. If one occurs below or next to your residence, serious damage can result, making the home uninhabitable. To help guard against the risk of sinkhole damage to your place, be on the lookout for these common signs of a possible sinkhole.
Signs of a Possible Sinkhole
- Doors that no longer close properly: Doors that hit the frame or scrape the floor may signal that the foundation of your home has shifted, causing the door frame to no longer be square.
- Jammed Windows: Windows that get stuck when opening or closing them also may be signs of structural shifts in your home.
- Cracked walls: Cracks may appear on walls in a diagonal pattern in block homes or appear as separations in plastered walls. Even a small crack in a wall can be a harbinger of sinkhole activity.
- Sloping floors: Sloping or dipping floors may indicate additional foundational or structural shifts.
- Cracked pavement: Deep cracks in your driveway may reveal that the ground below is shifting.
- Exposed tree roots: Parts of trees that were previously buried may become exposed because of sinking ground.
- Separation of sidewalk joints: Expansion of sidewalk joints can indicate sinkhole activity below.
- Swimming pool cracks or leaks: Cracks or leaks in pool walls may signal that the ground is shifting on your property.
- Sagging or slanting trees or fence posts: Tilted trees or fence posts also may be signs of depressions in your yard and sinkhole activity near your home.
Because sinkholes can cause significant damage, watch out for these signs of potential sinkhole activity on your property. Document and take pictures of these and any other changes you notice, as they can be important pieces of evidence when submitting an insurance claim for sinkhole damage if it occurs.
Has Your Home Insurance Company Denied Or Undervalued Your Property Damage Claim In Florida?
If your insurance company is dragging their feet regarding your property damage claim you should speak with an experienced insurance claim lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Florida law office directly at 800.451.6786 to schedule your free consultation. We help Florida residents just like you fight the big insurance companies who fail to abide by their own policies. Remember, we work on a contingent basis, meaning you don't pay us anything until we win your case.
