Posted at: 12/13/2012 8:13 AM
Print Story
Email to a FriendWaseca Homeowners Coping With Sinking Houses
WASECA, Minn. (AP) - Homeowners in the Waseca area say their houses seem to be sinking, and they blame this year's drought.
Pat and Howard Edwards say they started noticing problems this spring - doors and windows that wouldn't close properly and cracks in the walls and foundation. They had contractors return the structure to level footing, at a cost of $40,000.
Victor Barke owns Complete Basement Systems of Mankato. He says soil shrinks as it dries, and areas that don't have enough moisture-retaining clay to stabilize things can see houses begin to tilt. Contractors say the problem hit at least 20 homes in the Waseca area.
A Free Press of Mankato report says insurance rarely covers the repairs, which involve driving steel piers into the ground until they reach load-bearing soil.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
