Wall and Window Popping Sound from Rear of the House

Much more information needed, what is the soil type of the fill, sand/gravel, clay; is there a frost foundation (is there annual freeze-thaw conditions), was the foundation put onto non disturbed soil. It's clear that the concrete floor was poured on non compacted fill. Is there water flowing through the back side of this structure, from rain runoff.

As you are still hearing sounds from this area, it's probably still settling. But are there other water caused conditions that were NOT addressed by engineers/builder?

Hello Ignator,

Soil type clay,foundation is below freeze ground,which is 4' below surface in Alberta. Foundation was put on non disturbed soil,There is no weeping tile around foundation to drain water properly neither gravel around footing on either side to help drain water ( I was told as slope of the ground neither is required).That time there was no building code which required weeping tiles and sump pump to collect water and dump back to storm water drain system Specialy for walk out basement as foudation drop down in 2' steps. Footing in the basement as is @ front of the house basement floor level and @ back 10' below basement floor level.diffrence from front of the house to back of the house is 20'.Thanks for looking in to it

You need a Moose (he'll be around shortly).

You need to take more time with the story. I think I gather that the floor sunk or broke so they put fill in and ...put in new slab?

Set the story up in chronological order and say clearly what took place or was done. Also, how soon the noises happen after a temperature change, and what degree of change causes this.

This is not my area of expertise but these answers will be helpful to those with the expertise.

Thanking you very much for you expert openion.Keep up the good work.

Hello Captmoosi,

Yes i am the first owner and got the home build . yes they were designed by registered engineer.it is my understanding when you get building permit it need to be inspected for building code and struticial entegerity by engineer also for ground and foundation engineer. I think builder engineers put the stamp and city engineer most the time go along with them

They used two diameter thick pipes criss cross joint by welding 2' pipe in bigger diameter pipe at the start.They bolted bracket againist foundation wall and pressed pipe in to the ground with hydrolic jack to certian psi to make sure it will carry certion amount of load and will not go down. at the end they welded all pipes to those mounted bracket every 6' to 8 ' distance either side of foudation wall (but not opposite to each other in line)all most 25 to 30 piles.House in not under warranty.Legal fight will be vary expensive. In case rear retaing wall move they are going to wash there hand.I was advised first year by some one not let new home warranty or builder work on your home as they are in bed with each other.They will fix the problem to bare minium.Best to hire top notch lawyer and sue builder,builder engineer.city,city engineer and any body came to inspect from city.That is too late now My last bit is my home insurance assist me.Thank you very much for valuable information,and time you spent on it help me understand what i am standing againist.Thanks again

It was done approximately eight years ago. The warranty was only valid if the retaining wall will not slide back or move. If the retaining wall tilts and subsequently causes issues with the house foundation to tilt back the warranty is void.sooner or later retaining will tilt back from top as ground freezing in the winter.Thank you very much for your expert opinion. Tom

A structural failure of retaining walls can include tilting back of the wall or sliding back of the wall, or both.

A failure is a failure is a failure, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. As a Professional Engineer, any type of reinforced concrete retaining wall (that also includes the later installed reinforcing pipe piles) that moves an inch is a structural failure IMPO.

My advice to you is to obtain the services of a very good attorney who specializes in construction failures. I think you have an excellent chance to win in court from what you've described to us so far. You're being hoodwinked by the General Contractor and the Warranty company. Also, talk to your insurance provider for solutions. It's quite possible that they'll want to recover coverage expenses should they determine that the root causes of the problems are associated with design errors & omissions, and/or construction errors.

A new house or relatively new one should never exhibit these types of distressed conditions, plus you paid hard earned money to build a new house and ended up with this aggravation? Frankly, I would be more than LIVID if I were you!!!!

i would hire a good attorney. the problem will depreciate the value of your home and the solutions proposed are only a band aid to the problem.

stop all contruction work immediately, even if you have to thow them off your propery.

i'ld advise hiring a good engineer through your attorney, then sueing everyone involved.

If it was me, I would search for a stable point of ground or rock, that will not move with subsidence.

I would then get a surveyor to place marks on various points of the outside/inside walls and get each point measured. Repeat after a month....see what, if anything, is changing.....

It may even be possible to do something yourself if you have access to the right tools.....I have no idea......

I would like to sincerly thanks all of you for your excelent advise.My family learned lots from this house construction and surely will help me my children if ever decided to built home or deal with home builder or new home warranty.Thanks again for excelent responce.Tom

Irrespective of the actual mechanism, thermal variance (and other(s) ?) are causing the some portion of the structure to suffer some kind of (micro-) fractures that will cumulatively create a greater and greater threat to the total structure, and its (contents), at the time of collapse...

I recommend complete reconstruction, from the bottom of the foundation, on up...

is you house undermined? you must be able to identify the cause of the problem by an engineer, geologist, ect. before going to court