Implications of settlement on structures

Settlement of a foundation, if excessive or uneven, affects both appearance and safety of the structure.

• Cracks in walls, floors, beams and plaster from differential settlement.
• Tilting of tall structures such as towers and chimneys, as in the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
• Extra stresses in members of statically indeterminate frames, which can cause structural distress or even failure.
• Damage to services: pipes, drains, sewer lines and cables connected to the building may break.
• Loss of serviceability: doors and windows jam, floors slope, lifts and crane rails go out of line, and machinery loses alignment.
• Drainage problems and ponding around the structure.
• Aesthetic and economic loss, with costly repairs and a lower property value.

For this reason settlement is checked against permissible limits in addition to the bearing capacity check.