Settlement Investigation
Investigation of cracking and suspected foundation movement, starting with what is known about your own site and building.
Quick Answer
Cracks and uneven floors do not by themselves prove a foundation problem. A settlement investigation gathers the ground information, drawings and observation history for your building, and then decides what monitoring or further investigation would resolve the uncertainty.
Ground conditions differ between sites, and a neighbouring property is not a substitute for understanding your own. The scope depends on the evidence available and the questions that remain.
Who This Is For
- - Building owners
- - Owners' associations and facility managers
- - Developers handling defect reports
- - Owners planning alterations
When It Is Needed
- - Cracking in walls or floors
- - Doors or windows that bind
- - Visible tilt or level changes
- - Before alterations or adjacent works
What Problems This Service Solves
Movement may be recent, long-standing or seasonal. Separating dated observations from interpretation helps determine what, if anything, needs to be done.
Differential Movement
Uneven movement between parts of a building can produce cracking. Patterns are recorded to understand where movement may be concentrated.
Active or Historical?
Some movement has stopped; some continues. Monitoring over time helps tell them apart.
Ground Information Gaps
The original ground report may be missing. The gap is identified rather than filled with assumptions from nearby sites.
Moisture-Related Ground Change
Some soils change volume with moisture. Whether that applies to your site depends on investigation, not on location alone.
Alterations & Added Loads
Changes made after construction can alter how loads reach the ground and are reviewed against available records.
Nearby Works & Drainage
Excavation, leaking services or drainage may affect ground near a building and are considered where relevant.
The Investigation Process
Records & History
Collect ground reports, drawings and dated observations
Building Survey
Record cracking, levels and signs of movement
Monitoring
Set up crack or level monitoring where useful
Ground Input
Define any further ground investigation required
Report
Findings, limitations and recommended next steps
Methods & Techniques
The method follows the uncertainty: some buildings need only a survey and monitoring, others need specialist ground input as well.
Crack & Defect Survey
Mapping of cracking with width, position and pattern.
Level Survey
Records floor and structure levels to show relative movement.
Crack Monitoring
Repeat readings show whether cracks are changing.
Record Review
Existing ground reports, drawings and alterations history.
Ground Investigation
Boreholes or trial pits where the question needs ground data.
Structural Review
Considers how movement affects the building's performance.
What You Receive
Deliverables are agreed for each assignment and shaped around the project's stage, available information and the question to be resolved. Findings are recorded with their basis and limitations, so decisions can follow the evidence.
Investigation Report
Observations, interpretation and stated limitations
Movement Record
Dated crack and level observations
Records Gap List
What is known, what is missing and what is assumed
Monitoring Plan
What to measure, how often and what would change the advice
Further Investigation Scope
Defined ground or structural work, if the evidence calls for it
Stabilisation Options
Approaches to consider if movement is confirmed as a concern
Why New Nordic
Defined Scope
Each assignment starts with a clear question, an agreed scope and a stated reporting format.
Site-Specific Approach
Location, building use and available records shape the work, not assumptions from another market.
Evidence-Led Findings
Observations are recorded with their location and context, with limitations stated plainly.
One Connected Team
Planning, design, supervision and review can be discussed together, with responsibilities agreed from the outset.
Related Services
Structural Inspections
Visual and technical inspection of building structure, recording defects and reporting what they may mean for the building.
FEM Analysis
Finite element analysis for complex load paths, strengthening and modifications, based on project-specific assumptions and condition data.
Structural Strengthening Design
Design of strengthening and repair measures for existing structures, based on assessment findings and project-specific assumptions.
Frequently Asked
Does a crack mean the foundation is failing?
No. Cracks have many causes, and a visible crack does not itself prove a foundation problem. The investigation looks at the pattern and history to judge what it means.
Are all Indian sites on expansive soil?
No. Ground conditions vary from site to site, so conclusions must come from the information about your own site, not from assumptions about a region.
What records should I gather?
The original ground report, foundation drawings, records of alterations, previous assessments and dated photographs are all useful. If something is missing, say so.
Can you use a neighbour's ground report?
It may give helpful context, but it is not a substitute for investigating your own building. We would describe it as context only.
Is soil strengthening always needed?
No. Remedial options are considered only after the movement and its cause are understood.
Start a Conversation
Talk to Us About Settlement Investigation
Tell us where the project is, what stage it has reached and the questions you need to resolve. We will discuss the scope of support required.