Everyone always discusses how many sinkholes are in west central Florida, and there are a bunch. But, as we have show over the years, sinkholes are everywhere. Here are a couple recent examples. First, a massive sinkhole opened up in Guangzhou China. Workers were building an underground tunnel system when they began to hear and…
Its getting tough to keep up with these stories but a large sinkhole opened up in Windemere on Monday morning. The hole reportedly started as about 25 feet wide and has apparently grown to as big as 60 feet according to some reports. Neighbors and experts are concerned that this could continue to grow and…
A massive sinkhole pretty much in the middle of a swamp in Assumption Parish Louisiana has grown to over 370 feet in diameter and is believed to be 400 feet deep. This monster has apparently eaten all the surrounding trees and evacuation was suggested but not mandatory for nearby residents. They believe this opened up…
The effects of tropical storm Debby continue to linger and have caused a dramatic impact in the world of sinkholes. Dozens of sinkholes have opened up in the Hernando areas as a result of the constant bombardment of rain and water. The most damage has been seen in the Trillium community and around Mariner Boulevard….
Prudent homeowners should compare surface depressions with any damage to their home and cross reference the locations with the severity of the damage. Damage to the house is the simplest indicator of a progressive problem that needs to be investigated.
Additionally, water percolating through soil completely alters the characteristics of the soil. Although some soil material is compacted, the addition of water acts to “reorient†or change the density of the material. This usually happens only in the shallow soil, as the deeper material is still under the pressure of the soil above it. In a lot of ways, soil is acting not as a solid material but as a dynamic material reacting to the climate changes. When those changes are dramatic during heavy summer rains, more changes are often observed in the homes.
How neighborhood sinkholes can affect you Question: I am aware that at least one home in our neighborhood has had a confirmed sinkhole as the cause of structural damage. Is there a relationship between the presence of sinkhole activity nearby and the potential cause of the damage to my home? The general opinion of most…
The Statute simply requires the insurance expert to perform what ever testing is sufficient in their professional opinion. This is again a very subjective definition which is a point of contention in many of these cases. You have to remember that it is the insurance company’s burden to rule out sinkhole activity at the property so, what does constitute sufficient testing necessary to rule sinkhole activity?
Barfield and Bragg outline three simple steps you can take to avoid buying a sinkhole house.
The problem with this argument from a homeowner’s perspective is that once they deny the claim due to the damage theory, what can the homeowner do? Now a homeowner is forced to either hire their own engineering firm (at a cost of thousands of dollars) or hire an attorney. What the insurance companies often don’t tell their insureds is that if the insured requests it, the insurance must come out and complete the testing.
