concrete stumps sinking

[bayliss28]

Hi guys

I have recently brought a house that is on concrete stumps and have just noticed that some of the stumps are not touching the house. There is floor boards inside that are squeaky and also there is a crack in the plaster. The house is only 4 years old and was wondering if I should jack and pack it? what material should I use to pack it with? Or is it better it use wedges?

Thanks

[manofaus]

sounds like a warranty thing to me

The house is only 4 years old

[Andolate]

sounds like a warranty thing to me

Spot on :aro-u:

Either the builder will need to fix this or if he has gone broke or is no longer trading as a builder, the builders insurance will.

I would seriously be questioning the builder because four years is far too soon for such movement under "normal" circumstances

If some have moved now, it is reasonable to assume the rest will move at some point. Get it addressed propery now.

[bayliss28]

I read that its not warranty due to that the ground has moved. is this true? sorry about not replying earlier, i have no internet at my house.

[Bloss]

Unless the builder has not complied with the footing/foundation requirements for the soil type then it would not be warranty. A reactive clay 4 years ago in SE Australia was at the end of a 8-9 year drought and since then (2010 & 2011) unusually heavy rains and in most places saturated soils. Often when a house has been built that means unevenness in soil moisture levels across the block resulting in movement and that can be up or down and vary by pier!

So the OP needs to simply pack the spaces that can be seen - a jack might help, but it needs lifting only sufficiently to insert the packer (so no more than 1mm from existing height and often much less than that.) Wedges are for when there are large gaps, depending on the gap, but melamine strips are around 1mm, fibro can be found in 5mm, 6.5mm and 8mm thickness, gal flat iron works well and depending will be from around .5mm. Packer needs to be something that is not compressible and in suitable thicknesses. Masonite, weathertex, or MDF can be used on top of ant caps although I prefer the other materials listed.