In today’s world, there are different types of expertise that can be done on homes. This is the case with crack expertise. What kind of expertise is it exactly? We present to you everything there is to know about crack expertise. It is a question of understanding what it consists of, what it is used for and how it is carried out.
What does a crack assessment consist of?
To understand what a crack assessment is , you must first define the subject. Crack assessment consists of knowing the structural issues of the house that led to the appearance of cracks. Understanding these issues can open the right to repairs or emergency work.
It is not only the causes of visible cracks that need to be assessed. It is also necessary to see how these cracks evolve over time. Even superficial cracks can get worse. You may find a micro-crack in your home. But this can very quickly turn into a deep crack. Considering the evolution of cracks allows you to assess the risks to the integrity of the home and the safety of the occupants.
To carry out these assessments, it is necessary to have in-depth knowledge of construction and civil engineering. A professional insured expert will then be at your disposal to do this. He will provide you with a detailed report including the origin, probable evolution and the recommended sustainable solution.
When cracks appear in a house, the owner or tenant must request an expert appraisal. This is the first reflex to have. In the case where you want to buy or sell a house, the appraisal is also mandatory.
What is the purpose of a crack assessment?
Crack expertise is necessary for many reasons. First of all, it allows you to see the damage and the causes of the cracks in the house. You will then know the origin of the cracks. They can be caused by humidity, infiltration, ground movements, etc. You will quickly see if the cracks have caused serious and dangerous damage for you.
This expertise secondly allows to gauge the severity of the cracks. You will be able to see if they are likely to evolve and grow in the house. It is a question of detecting the threats that will have major impacts on the integrity of the house. With a crack expertise , it is therefore possible to predict the risks for the future. The expert will then monitor the evolution of your cracks regularly to avoid disasters in the event of negative evolution. Following this expertise, you will feel safer at home.
In addition, it allows you to find the right solutions against cracks. Sometimes emergency solutions have to be applied immediately after the disaster. This happens when the house is almost in ruins because of the cracks. In other cases, it is possible to plan solutions for repairing the cracks over time.
How is a crack assessment carried out?
If you want to use an appraisal, you must start by defining the type of house to be appraised. The procedures in the event of a crack are in fact different depending on the house. For a new house, we will rely on the 12-month guarantee of perfect completion from the receipt of the work.
For an old house, you will have to check with your insurance company. If the cracks come from a natural disaster, you can request compensation from your insurer. You will notify your insurance company and file a claim. They will send you an insurance expert to note the facts and assess the damage. Put together your file for the compensation process. If the file is admissible, your crack assessment will result in a reimbursement of the damage you have suffered.
In the event that the amount of reimbursement offered by the insurance does not cover the damage suffered, you can use the services of an insured expert. A counter-expertise will then be launched to claim fairer compensation.
