Sinkhole reports prepared by insurance company hired experts are very think, very long, very confusing and seem very official looking. This is intentionally done by the testing companies to, to make their investigation seem very official, proper and thorough - and if it looks proper, official and thorough, the testing companies hope it adds credibility to the results and opinions of their investigation.


Forms Forms Forms
Don't fall for the "looks official must be right" trick! Probably about 90% of every sinkhole report is a form! Most sinkhole testing companies use a template for almost and all of the report - it's the exact same for every sinkhole investigation! Perhaps 10% of the findings in the report are unique to the homeowner's property! The stock language in their form templates talk about geological backgrounds for the area, or other causes of damages such as thermal expansion and contraction, or material deficiencies, etc.


Don't Be Intimidated!
Most of the information in a sinkhole report is irrelevant! It's there to distract you from the real data - the important part of a sinkhole investigation. Sinkhole reports are two parts: 1. Data; and 2. Opinions of what the data means.

Be certain to understand the data - that's the real meat of the report. The "opinion" part isn't too helpful because that's merely somebody's opinion - and different people, even different expert geologists and engineers - often have disagree and have different opinions about the same data!


Floor Elevation Survey
The first set of data to look at is the floor elevation survey. Most testing companies hired by insurance companies try to bury this somewhere near the back of the report. It looks like a map of the floor of your home, and often has squiggly lines surrounding the floor layout. This attempts to describe, usually in 1/10ths of an inch, whether your floor slab is level, or whether parts of it are unlevel.

The old standards issued by the American Concrete Institute specify that, for a floor to be considered level and within an acceptable tolerance range, the elevation difference within a 10 foot area must not exceed ½ an inch.

And within the entire slab, there must not be a difference of greater than 1.5 inches.


Floor Elevation Survey Example

Click Here for an example of a Floor Elevation Survey.

Look across the entire slab - do you see a height difference of 1.5 inches or more? Look over any 10 foot area - do you see a height difference of .5 inches or more? Homes experiencing sinkhole activity MAY show differences in the floor elevation - particularly if one part of the home is sinking. BUT just because you aren't outside the tolerance levels for floor elevation doesn't mean you don't have a sinkhole - it's important to take the elevation changes in context - is there damage in parts of the home that aren't level?


Floor Elevation Surveys Are Outdated!
The old American Concrete Institute standard measurement for floor elevation surveys is outdated, and it has been replaced because it is inherently inaccurate!

But sinkhole testing companies hired by insurance companies still use the outdated measurements! Why? Because it allows them to manipulate the data and make certain interpretations to justify their conclusions? Because they're saving money? Because they're afraid of what the proper testing standards will reveal?


Demand The Current Testing Standards!
The American Concrete Institute currently rates floor elevations in terms of an F number. The F number standard doesn't just measure from corner to corner, or over a 10 foot line - it takes into account all the dips and bumps on a concrete slab - and might be a better method of detecting concrete slab foundations showing indications of sinkhole activity or differential settlement. Determining the F number is a very scientific, high tech, and computerized process. There is almost no room for human error or user manipulation. The device used is called a Dipstick. Is your testing company using it? Or are they still using the outdated method?

Don't you really want to know if your floor is being impacted by sinkhole activity? Demand the proper testing. If you don't get the answers you're looking for, call SinkTeam’s experienced sinkhole adjusters for a FREE Home Evaluation by calling 813-435-1616 today!


Standard Penetration Test Boring Logs
The next important area to look at is the Standard Penetration Boring logs - also known as the SPT logs. Again these are likely to be buried deep within the report, and these are often depicted as vertical graphs.

Click Here for a sample SPT boring log.

The left side of an SPT log will typically show the depth in 5 foot intervals into the ground. Somewhere to the right of the depth will be a series of numbers, including what is called an "N-Value" number. Look at the N-Value number as the log progresses deeper and deeper into the ground. Generally speaking, soils should be more and more dense the deeper and deeper into the ground you go - and as a result, the N-Value should get higher and higher as you go deeper and deeper.


WOH, WOR, And Low N-Values
After the first 5 to 10 feet, keep your eyes open for low N-Value numbers. Any N-Value numbers less than 15 should be carefully examined - and if any N-Values indicated as WOH, WH, WOR, WR, Weight of Rod or Weight of Hammer are used, these mean that the N-Value is ZERO. A zero N-Value, such as a Weight of Rod or Weight of Hammer, can indicate a void or a sinkhole!

Don't be intimidated by the SPT logs and the N-Values! Call experienced sinkhole attorney SinkTeam today to discuss your sinkhole report for FREE and have your questions answered! Call 813-435-1616 today!