Pressure on Roadway Damages Foundation

June 10, 2014

 The insured lives on a cul de sac and his dwelling's foundation is showing signs of cracks. A structural engineer has inspected and has called it, "street creep" and states that it is caused by vehicles turning around in the roadway, which causes pressure on the driveway which is carried to the foundation of the dwelling, causing the cracks. I don't see this as earth movement by itself and am looking at this as being caused by vehicles. In your opinion, is this covered by HO-3?

California Subscriber

 

Our information indicates that street creep is caused by temperature changes, although we are not engineers. According to basementquestions.com, Street Creep, also called Concrete Creep, occurs as a result of the unpredictable movement, shift and expansion of concrete streets. Extreme pressure, due to traffic and natural settlement, pushes the concrete street against the driveway moving it into the home's foundation producing serious cracks in foundation walls.

This problem affects homes with concrete driveways and attached garages. Homes located at the end of "T" intersections, at the end of cul-de-sacs, and on the outside of a curve are especially susceptible to Street Creep damage.

Earth movement is excluded regardless of cause, so even if vehicles did contribute to the movement of the concrete, such movement and damage therefrom is still excluded.