How to keep track of settlement damages?

[sophiet]

Near our townhouse, new train tracks have been under construction for several months. There have been some explosions and especially a lot of heavy machinery driving right outside our place. An inspection for cracks (I believe) was done before and after, and everything looked fine. However, we have now noticed that the kitchen cabinets no longer align with the trim, there are new cracks in the indoor wall paneling, an interior door is sticking, and a small shed on the property has suddenly developed a wall that bulges significantly outward.

All the houses on the street have been skewed for many years; apparently, they settled in the 1960s, but the issues I mentioned above are definitely new. (I haven't talked to any neighbors yet, but more should have similar problems.)

If these are the only issues, it feels acceptable, but we are worried that it might continue. I photographed and measured some gaps about a month ago, and nothing more seems to have happened with them. However, I think the sticking door is new.

Does anyone know what we should be looking out for? Any specific area of the house where settling is known to show clearly? I don't see any gaps at the baseboards, for example.

We are planning to put in new floors soon, but it feels risky if the house is going to collapse...

 

[Atom]

Exterior walls. If it's plaster, check from the outside.
If it's a wooden facade, check from the inside. In the corners, it usually starts to detach.
This is because the boards (wall cladding) usually form a large stiffening surface, as they are attached to the same studs. In the corners, there are always several studs that can move. And that's where it cracks first in 99% of cases.

 

[sophiet]

Exterior walls. If it's plaster, check from the outside.
If it's wood paneling, check from the inside. In the corners, it usually loosens.
This is because the boards (wall covering) usually form a large stiffening surface, attached to the same studs. In the corners, there are always several studs that can move. And that's where it cracks first in 99% of cases.

Thank you! The house is brick on the ground floor and wood on the top. It's on a concrete slab on what I believe people have said is old lakebed. Do you check brick in the same way as plaster?

 

[Atom]

Brick, I don't know...
However, I think it will crack too. It depends on how well the joint holds. If it has hardened against the brick, the brick will crack.
If it's a bit weaker, the crack will follow the joint. Kind of like that... I think

http://www.byggahus.se/forum/fasad/92012-spricka-i-tegelfasad.html

 

[sophiet]

Brick, I don't know...
However, I think it will crack too. It depends on how well the joint holds. If it has hardened against the brick, the brick will crack.
If it's a bit weaker, the crack will follow the joint. A bit nar ... I think

[link]

Thanks! I will go out and check as soon as possible.