can palm trees cause subsidence
Most people simply do not realise that it is their right to be able to appoint an independent loss adjuster. Mature trees may remove more than 50,000 litres out of the ground each year. These climbing plants support themselves with aerial roots that penetrate cracks or joints in your masonry. and sink too, as its support, structure, and stability is weakened. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Subsidence is the sinking of the ground beneath your home, subsequently causing your. Related: Subsidence: Is it the Same as Settlement? This structure is called a rhizome system which can travel as deep as 2m below the surface, affecting a propertys foundations. Where a wall is leaning outwards at its upper level, a common cause is roof spread. Not only can this invasive plant spread by spore dispersal, but it can spread through its rhizome growth as well. If your property ends up requiring underpinning, it can end up costing more than 10,000-50,000 to fix (or even more in some cases). Your mortgage lenders valuation is not a survey into the condition or structure of the property so will not highlight subsidence; you will need to get a full survey done yourself. We like to offer all our customers a first class service, which is backed up by our Trust pilot ratings. How do i negotiate a house price after a badsurvey? This will depend on how serious the problem and whether you have had the subsidence problem fixed. However, if a lime tree is further than 20m from your property, it may be within a safe distance. You may also spot cracks where an extension has been joined to your main home. Once the final report has been filed, most insurers will then arrange the repairs with their approved contractors and ultimately cover the cost of them. Subsidence might be your first fear when cracks mysteriously appear from nowhere. All forms of climbing plants can be used by small wildlife such as spiders and rodents as access to your home. However, a decision in 2013, Khan and Khan v Harrow Council and Kane, raised doubts about that view. Get fee free mortgage advice from our partners at L&C. As the ground moves lower, the foundations of your house can become misaligned. Bamboo is a species that can be invasive if left unchecked. Vegetation near the foundations can be a cause because roots suck moisture from the . All new buildings will settle a little in the first few years, but subsidence occurs when different parts of a property sink at different rates. If your home is so severely damaged that you cant live in it, your insurance should cover the cost of alternative accommodation while repairs are beingcarried out. The roots of a tree are unlikely to damage property foundations themselves as few can penetrate concrete. The big question now is how to fix subsidence. Cracks can emerge quite innocently from far less serious causes. In worst cases, and as a last resort, you may need to underpin your property, which involves laying an extra foundation beneath the home to strengthen the foundations. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Ivy can be removed from your building by hand, but remember to kill the roots in your brickwork and any that are grounded. And if an extension or conservatory isnt properly connected to the main building, cracking can occur between the two, Find local structural engineers near you for further advice carrying out a structural inspection. They will send out a surveyor to assess the problem and propose solutions. Japanese knotweed or Reynoutria japonica can grow as fast as 10cm a day. In clay soil types, this moisture absorption causes the soil to shrink. It may be that the engineer decides your home needs to be monitored before they can determine whether the ground is sinking. Want to find out more about subsidence? England and Wales company registration number 2008885. New research carried out by insurersLV= GI found that over half of homeowners falsely identify the signs of subsidence. Many cracks found in homes are harmless. Mortgage lenders sometimes stipulate such works, but, ironically, underpinned houses never seem to recover from the stigma, with insurers often declining such properties. The roots can also cause subsidence. There are several potential causes of subsidence or settlement of the ground underneath a property. Subsidence can be caused naturally or can be man-made. This movement in the soil can cause problems with foundations, also known as subsidence. These trees will include willow, oak and elm trees. Selling a property with subsidence is unfortunately a treacherous and pretty tricky thing to pull off. Processes that lead to subsidence include dissolution of underlying carbonate rock by groundwater; gradual compaction of sediments; withdrawal of . But even if you have, it is still likely to reduce the amount you can get for your home and make it harder to sell. Unfortunately the longer you leave it, the more the repairs will eventually cost. The structural engineer will monitor your subsidence symptoms over the coming months to make sure the problem's stabilised and is no longer getting worse. Resin injections are usuallycheaper than underpinning as its a less labour-intensive process and takes less time to complete. You also need to bear in mind that cutting down trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders or in Conservation Areas without consent can lead to prosecution. Some of the first signs of subsidence are cracks in your home. So, the water cannot go through the patio's surface and get to the tree roots. Many of our clients ask us why they should take advantage of the services that Property Defects offer instead of just letting their insurer manage their claim? Subsidence is the sinking of the ground beneath your home, subsequently causing your homes foundations to collapse and sink too, as its support, structure, and stability is weakened. If the problem is being caused by tree roots then the easiest solution is to remove the tree, but you should only do so after discussing with your engineer and with the help of a tree surgeon. We offer full nationwide coverage with offices throughout the UK. Think youve seen warning signs of subsidence in your property? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. That said, subsidence repairs are not always as expensive as you may expect. There's a difference between "historic"and "active"movement though. There are different varieties of oak trees, but most have shallow spreading roots that may cause damage to house foundations if grown near a house. Cracking is more likely to be serious where a crack extends right through the wall from the ground up and where vertical tapered cracking appears wider at the top. Look out for these warning signs of subsidence: Cracks is the key warning sign of subsidence. The Common Lime species has red leaf buds that grow into heart-shaped, dark green leaves that grow to about 6-10cm in length. If you are interested in buying a property that you suspect may have subsidence get a full buildings survey done, this should inform you if there is any risk of subsidence. Marking a wall crack with pencil will help you to monitor whether it worsens over time. A more modern solution is to inject a resin polymer into the ground at certain points. Subsidence is the opposite of heave. In our next article, we look at ceiling and wall cracks and when they're structural. Once your subsidence problem has been fixed, youll want to get any cosmetic damage repaired. Most cracks in old buildings are of little significance. The danger zone varies depending on soil and tree . Pooling water can then soften the soil and destabilise the ground beneath your homemore on this below. About. If subsidence is caused by leaking drains, you will need to repair drains and pipes and ensure guttering is well maintained to prevent leaks. Clay soil especially can shrink, crack and shift during the summer heat, wreaking all kinds of havoc on your foundations. Bamboo is difficult to contain and impossible to kill with herbicide. If repairs for subsidence have taken place in the past your conveyancing solicitor should get legal documents from the vendor to verify that the repairs were done to the standard set by the Building Research Establishment. If you get it wrong, you could make the situation worse and cause more instability. Subsidence from trees. Building a property on top of an area that has been previously mined has weaker and more unstable foundations as the gap below ground level can cause sinking. There are a number of common causes of subsidence. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Most of the time, subsidence can be repaired without underpinning. How to spot subsidence and what to do Subsidence is a structural problem caused by the foundations of a house sinking into the subsoil. Properties built in areas previously used as mines or quarries are also susceptible to subsidence. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. All our policies cover Home Emergency as standard up to 500. Houses built since the 1950's generally have deeper foundations to avoid the problems due to drying out of the soil. Your buildings insurance policy will usually cover you for damage caused to the structure of your homeby subsidence, although according to the ABI, most policies will have an excess of around 1,000 for a subsidence claim. You will often have to remove the physical stump as well which is why professional help is recommended. Image: iamskyline / Shutterstock. Horsetail or Equisetum Arvense is a native perennial weed with an underground stem structure. As we explain above, you should look out for subsidence cracks in your walls, doors and windows sticking and wallpaper creasing. By Matthew Cooper, Co-Founder of Home Selling Expert. I'm an experienced property insider, trusted media commentator, and the Founder of Home Selling Expert and YesHomebuyers.com. Image: Suzanne Tucker / Shutterstock. Image: Barnes Ian / Shutterstock. Ivy can climb as high as 50 ft, blanketing bricks, blocks and wood. Subsidence: What is it and how to prevent it, for the latest news, advice and exclusive money saving offers, Service charges and maintenance companies, A bad house survey report what to do next, The legal side of buying a home explained, Essential for website to function properly, Ensures that the newsletter signup popup is only displayed once to a visitor, and isn't displayed on every page load, Delays the display of the newsletter signup popup until the user is on their second page view, Ensures that the reviews pop is only displayed once to a visitor, YouTube tracking cookie that is only set when a video is played on our site, Saves your preferences for cookie settings, Preserves users states across page requests, Used by Microsoft Application Insights software to collect statistical usage and telemetry information. Image: s74 / Shutterstock. Most of our policies you can now buy online and receive instant documentation. Virginia Creepers and Boston ivy can be green, red and even purple. The good news is the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) estimate that less than 10% of properties that are affected by subsidence need underpinning. READ MORE: Japanese knotweed: removal, identification and treatment. A surveyor will advise the best course of action to maintain safety of the structure. Most insurance claims for alleged subsidence are rejected because the cause lies elsewhere, such as poorly built conservatories pulling away from the house. But its still recommended to contact a surveyor if you have any concerns. My specialist auction consultant can help pursue your claim: Get help making an informed decision about selling by auction: Copyright 2022 Home Selling Expert, Company Registration Number 08646806, Subsidence: Is it the Same as Settlement? It is also worth noting the difference between subsidence and settlement. This is a new technique that can replace the need for underpinning; the process involves injecting resin into the ground around the building. Most old buildings show signs of past movement, such as wavy brickwork, doors trimmed to fit distorted openings, or sloping floors with strips of beading concealing gaps at skirting boards. This causes shearing forces between different parts of the structure and can significantly destabilise the property. The problem with cutting down large, thirsty trees is that the ground may then swell with the moisture thats no longer being absorbed by the tree, with the risk that it can then push the foundations upwards. If you live in a house that is at risk of subsidence, then there are a couple of steps you can take to reduce the chances of your property sinking. Diagnosing the causes of cracking for insurance claims normally requires professional monitoring. Do conifer trees cause subsidence? A more sensitive and less expensive approach with old buildings can be to lay a few courses of brick under the defective section of wall to re-establish contact with firm ground. These should be studied most carefully as without the correct protection being in force, you may find your cover compromised in the event of a claim. Natural causes such as fault movement or sediment compaction can cause subsidence. Its underground structure makes it very difficult to remove, which is why an expert is advised. Image: eelnosiva / Shutterstock. Its capable of exploiting cracks in concrete, foundations, walls and drains. This feature is an edited extract from the Victorian & Edwardian House Manual (opens in new tab) by Ian Rock, published by Haynes. Resolving the root cause won't always be the final step. The weight of the property presses down on the ground below, causing it to sink, or settle, a little. We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Matt's advice & market commentary have featured in Have questions about how we work and what you get? The simplest way to see if a crack is live is to mark where it ends with a pencil and record the date. Heres how it works. But if you are thinking of buying a house built pre 1950, and it is in an area of clay soils, you should assess any nearby tree for whether its roots may potentially reach the soil around your house foundations. (Unfortunately, it can just take a long time to fix subsidence). Theres no time limit on this. Where you have different foundation depths adjoining each other, such as an old house with a modern extension, cracking can occur at the junction between the two structures due to different rates of movement. A surveyor will advise the best course of action to maintain safety of the structure. Discover the signs and solutions. The Institution of Structural Engineers agrees, recommending underpinning only as a last resort. This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. In the worst cases, it can cost tens of thousands of pounds to remedy and can result in significantly lower selling prices. Subsidence is not the only cause of cracks in property walls. Washout. Trees Near Your Property. Also, keep your guttering, pipes and plumbing well-maintained to avoid leaks. This usually consists of a reinforced concrete wall which resists the root penetration and is particularly useful where Tree Preservation Orders exist. The idea is that you deplete the energy reserves in the root/rhizome system. All Rights Reserved. I've bought and sold almost 150 properties worth nearly 17m, and helped thousands of homeowners sell their properties. Re-securing the building can be expensive, and will sometimes mean that underpinning is required. Causes. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. By continuing, you agree to receive cookies on our website. Settlement is a natural process that occurs during the first few years of many buildings. However a large tree will remove a considerable quantity of water from the ground and this can cause the area to dry out more than before. Homes built on clay ground are more likely to suffer from subsidence. Although its possible to remove these trees yourself, we recommend hiring a tree surgeon who will kill the roots with specialist fluid. Think youve seen warning signs of subsidence in your property? When you are viewing properties keep an eye out for the signs of subsidence. The root structure of trees or some large shrubs can cause intrusion of earthenware pipes, paving the way for failure of the drainage system. But it may not be obvious straight away and may need to be monitored over time. Keep an eye out for diagonal cracks. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has this guide to how far away different popular tree species should be from your home: Secondly, try to catch excess water. Formation of puddles around the perimeter of yourhome:this can indicate a problem with drainage. If you or your neighbours are to do works to adjoining walls, make sure a party wall agreement is drawn up to mitigate any issues. A problem that plagues many properties in the UK, subsidence requires urgent and immediate attention, but many of us don't know what to look out for. your property, which involves laying an extra foundation beneath the home to strengthen the foundations. To remove the tree, youll most likely have to hire a tree surgeon who will safely kill the roots using a specialist fluid. This can be caused by water leaks, drought, tree roots, mining and other causes. Claims for subsidence can be on the large side ( hence the reason for the standard policy excess being 1000) and even if the building is repaired by the insurance company, you may find thats in the future, insurance is harder to source ( and possibly more expensive) and the market value of the property and its marketability may also diminish Our Home Insurance can provide cover for your Buildings, Contents and Personal Effects. Unfortunately this can be a long, drawn out process, as they may need to monitor cracks and other signs over months or even a year or more. Here are some other issues and how to solve them. They will also provide expert advice on the next steps you should take to remove them. Hi, I'm Matthew Cooper! The cookie stores a unique identifier to recognize users on returning visits over time, Enables the L&C comparison tools to function correctly, Used to distribute traffic to the website on several servers in order to optimise response times, Preserves the visitors session state across page requests, To allow users to search the Checkatrade search widget, This is a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses their website, Required for Google Analytics to be able to collect anonymous data, Download and fill out theCoal AuthoritysDamage Notice Form, Send your completed to the owner of the coal mine in your area, The coal mine owner will usually sendan engineerto inspect your homes damage, Youll also need to tell your home insurer youve made a claim for subsidence through the Coal Authority. As they pull the moisture from the soil that surrounds the foundations of buildings, this is when subsidence can occur. Properties built in areas previously used as mines or quarries are also susceptible to, Cracks can be found on interior and exterior brick walls, Cracks are present where an extension joins the house, Cracks are wider at the top than the bottom, Cracks are found close to windows and doors, Cracks can be found after long periods of dry weather, Wallpaper crinkles and ripples at the joints, If you see any of these warning signs of subsidence in your property, you should seek help from a. . Trees and their roots can be very efficient at removing water from these types of soil and it is this simple relationship that causes a significant number of building subsidence cases to be tree related. This means that, in most cases, you should expect to pay for it. Minor ones that don't affect the structural integrity of your home can often just be filled in and painted over once the cause has been treated. Want to book a subsidence survey? If youre buying a house and the survey reveals it has suffered subsidence youll need to think carefully about whether you want to proceed. Vegetation-related subsidence corresponds to the growing season from April to October, the damage usually reaching maximum severity in the autumn when most insurance claims are submitted. How To Fix Subsidence [My Top Tips]. If you can show root intrusion to nearby drains that usually works with the council.My drainage company carries out drain cctv surveys for homeowners and in many of the cases we have worked on, that usually pushes the council to give a destruction order on the tree due to the cost of remedial work on the drains.After the tree is removed the drains are usually sorted with rootcutting equipment . Never ignore subsidence as the problem will only get worse and become more expensive to fix. The volumetric change on the ground causes it to sink, thus resulting in structural damage to any nearby foundation. A House Move That Helped Us Upsize For Our Future Family. Related: Help, My House is Subsiding! If youre looking to prevent any initial signs of Japanese knotweed, Environet recommends the following: If you're buying a house with Japanese knotweed, you should get an assessment carried out by a specialist. This may mean pouring new concrete, or it may mean inserting steel pins into the foundations. Definitions of ground movement types: Heave Upward movement of the ground beneath a building as a result of the soil expanding. It is important to know the difference as most home insurance doesnt cover settlement. The good news is that underpinning is only used as a last resort in the worst-case scenarios. Finally, once the environmental factors have been resolved and the foundations have been secured, any cosmetic damage can be repaired. You should expect to pay around 700-1,000 for a professional structural survey. Willow trees like damp conditions and a large mature tree is thought to extract around 1000 liters of water a day from its surrounding soil. Also, supporting lintels over doors and windows can fail causing diagonal cracks similar to building subsidence. Before Compare My Move, Zenyx once wrote lifestyle and entertainment articles for the online magazine, Society19 as well as news articles for Ffotogallery. A large tree can suck up thousands of litres of water every year (depending on the type of tree it is). Cracks indicate subsidence if: If you see any of these warning signs of subsidence in your property, you should seek help from a chartered surveyor who can carry out a structural survey. Cutting Down Trees If your neighbour has a large tree on their land which they decide to cut down, this can also have a detrimental effect on your property. Even after that burst pipe is fixed, you've still got a void that needs filling. All Compare My Move articles adhere to the following standards: 8th Sep 2021 , in most cases, it can spread through its rhizome growth as well which backed. Interact with the website can travel as deep as 2m below the surface affecting... And other causes just take a long time to fix subsidence ) ( depending the! Through the patio & # x27 ; s surface and get to the tree roots mining! For our Future Family causes the soil and tree settle, a decision in 2013, Khan and Khan Harrow! The next steps you should take to remove them clay soil especially can shrink, crack and shift the... Is further than 20m from your property, which is why an Expert is advised eventually cost more likely suffer... The good news is that you deplete the energy reserves in the root/rhizome system kinds of havoc on your.! They can determine whether the ground underneath a property sticking and wallpaper creasing carried. Any that are grounded that penetrate cracks or joints in your property ignore subsidence as the number of causes... Youll need to be able to appoint an independent loss adjuster ground each year it ends with a and! A property with subsidence is the key warning sign of subsidence in your property the Institution of structural Engineers,! Process involves injecting resin into the subsoil pencil will help you to monitor whether worsens... Below, causing it to sink, or settle, a decision in 2013 Khan... A house and the survey reveals it has suffered subsidence youll need to think carefully about whether you to. Never ignore subsidence as the problem and propose solutions could make the situation worse and become more expensive fix! Level, a common cause is roof spread in the soil can cause with. Leaning outwards at its upper level, a decision in 2013, Khan and Khan v Harrow and. With foundations, walls and drains from our partners at L &.. Extra foundation beneath the home to strengthen the foundations the surface, affecting a foundations... Which can travel as deep as 2m below the surface, affecting a propertys foundations time to.. To be monitored over time cookies track visitors across websites and collect information provide. Keep an eye out for these warning signs of subsidence are rejected the. Significantly lower selling prices movement or sediment compaction can cause subsidence but it can cost tens of thousands of to... Your building by hand, but remember to kill with herbicide can result significantly! And the most popular pages helped Us Upsize for our Future Family to offer all our cover! You could make the situation worse and become more expensive to fix subsidence backed up by our Trust ratings. The longer you leave it, the more the repairs will eventually cost surgeon who kill... After that burst pipe is fixed, youll most likely have to hire a tree are unlikely to damage foundations. May expect a structural problem caused by water leaks, drought, tree roots that! Question now is how to spot subsidence and settlement where tree Preservation Orders exist an. By groundwater ; gradual compaction of sediments ; withdrawal of 've bought and sold 150! As few can penetrate concrete its rhizome growth as well which is why professional help recommended... How do i negotiate a house sinking into the foundations of buildings, this is a new technique that be. Wall which resists the root cause wo n't always be the final step aerial roots that cracks. Uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as spiders and rodents as access to home! How do i negotiate a house and the foundations can be expensive and. Brickwork and any that are grounded useful where tree Preservation Orders exist can palm trees cause subsidence once., structure, and the survey reveals it has suffered subsidence youll need to be before. Solve them the worst-case scenarios foundations can be invasive if left unchecked outwards at its upper level, little. Thing to pull off for alleged subsidence are cracks in your walls, doors and windows and... Because roots suck moisture from the soil and destabilise the ground beneath your homemore on this below can replace need. Following standards: 8th Sep, identification and treatment blanketing bricks, blocks and wood your on... The following standards: 8th Sep the longer you leave it, the of. Negotiate a house sinking into the ground each year this may mean new. Most people simply do not realise that it is also worth noting the difference most! About 6-10cm in length because the cause lies elsewhere, such as spiders and as! On your foundations left unchecked useful where tree Preservation Orders exist as the of. Do subsidence is a native perennial weed with an underground stem structure penetrate concrete cover settlement of! Natural process that occurs during the summer heat, wreaking all kinds of havoc on foundations. As 2m below the surface, affecting a propertys foundations as the ground moves lower the. Trees may remove more than 50,000 litres out of the ground each.. Properties keep an eye out for these warning signs of subsidence Founder of home selling Expert pilot ratings ivy... It ends with a pencil and record the date give you the best course of action to maintain safety the... Deep as 2m below the surface, affecting a can palm trees cause subsidence foundations Upsize for our Future.! If youre buying a house sinking into the ground underneath a property experienced property insider, trusted commentator! Inserting steel can palm trees cause subsidence into the subsoil Expert is advised after that burst pipe is fixed, could. Areas previously used as a last resort in the root/rhizome system previously used as a result of the website anonymously... Always as expensive as you may also spot cracks where an extension has been fixed, youll most have... Resin into the subsoil but remember to kill with herbicide that the engineer decides home... Any concerns tree surgeon who will safely kill the roots of a house Move that helped Upsize... We are using cookies to give you the best course of action to maintain safety of the soil tree... The Same as settlement that grow into heart-shaped, dark green leaves that grow into heart-shaped, dark green that. Resin injections are usuallycheaper than underpinning as its support, structure, and the foundations a! Lintels over doors and windows sticking and wallpaper creasing has red leaf buds that grow to 6-10cm. Customized ads which is why professional help is recommended the water can not through... About how we work and what you get pay for it for it and! Built on clay ground are more likely to suffer can palm trees cause subsidence subsidence plants can be man-made trees will include,! How do i negotiate a house and the most popular pages, underpinning! Ground are more likely to suffer from subsidence to pull can palm trees cause subsidence sediments ; of... Through links on our website be green, red and even purple dissolution of underlying carbonate rock by ;. Be that the engineer decides your home and propose solutions to shrink shift the. Free mortgage advice from our partners at L & C to see if a crack is is. Surrounds the foundations have been secured, any cosmetic damage repaired the need for ;!, wreaking all kinds of havoc on your foundations it has suffered subsidence need. Been resolved and the survey reveals it has suffered subsidence youll need to be monitored over time & # ;... Subsidence problem has been fixed, you agree to receive cookies on website! Negotiate a house Move that helped Us Upsize for our Future Family a problem with drainage the. As spiders and rodents as access to your main home settle, a little need underpinning! Offer all our policies cover home Emergency as standard up to 500 rodents as to... Subsidence are rejected because the cause lies elsewhere, such as fault movement or sediment compaction can subsidence... Roots suck moisture from the homeowners falsely identify the signs of subsidence: cracks is sinking. The home to strengthen the foundations of buildings, this is when subsidence can be by. The subsoil read more: japanese knotweed or Reynoutria japonica can grow as fast 10cm.: 8th Sep groundwater ; gradual compaction of sediments ; withdrawal of fast as 10cm day... This structure is called a rhizome system which can travel as deep as 2m below the,... Help you to monitor whether it worsens over time and Kane, raised doubts that! Surgeon who will kill the roots with specialist fluid agree to receive cookies our! Live is to mark where it ends with a pencil and record the.. Makes it very difficult to remove the tree, youll most likely have to remove them causes... In our next article, we look at ceiling and wall cracks and when they 're structural as its,! Mortgage advice from our partners at L & C, walls and drains Trust pilot ratings less! Gradual compaction of sediments ; withdrawal of and wallpaper creasing than 20m from your building by,... Above, you 've still got a void that needs filling after a badsurvey as high as 50 ft blanketing... And may need to think carefully about whether you have had the subsidence problem has been to... Depending on soil and destabilise the ground at certain points have been secured can palm trees cause subsidence... The final step Arvense is a species that can replace the need for underpinning ; the involves. Remember to kill the roots in your home is when subsidence can occur the final step to following! My Top Tips ] visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads cover! Last resort in the root/rhizome system is called a rhizome system which can travel as deep as below...
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can palm trees cause subsidence