If you are thinking about purchasing a home that has been previously remediated for sinkhole activity, there are a few things you need to be aware of and consider. First, make sure you ask for any technical reports that have been issued to the current or any previous owner. This includes and structural damage assessment reports, subsidence reports addressing sinkhole activity or any other problematic subsurface soil conditions, or remediation certification reports if the owners are declaring that previous repair work has been completed.
If the home has been remediated by a qualified repair company and certified by a geotechnical engineer, there is little chance that there will be a sinkhole of any significant size that will affect your home. We can help you understand any technical repair certification reports and determine if the repair work has been completed properly.
If you discover that the property was remediated but there is no proof that the repairs were monitored by a qualified engineering firm, call us and one of our engineers can help you understand what your options are going forward. All insurance companies in Florida who pay claims for sinkhole remediation require that the repair work is monitored by a qualified engineering firm. Be very cautious if a seller says that repair work has been completed but does not have any certification reports.
When in doubt, contact Geohazards. We can help.