Subsidence is a serious issue that involves the sinking of the property in question. Unlike settlement, however, which generally also involves some level of fragmentation, subsidence is a process that impacts the whole property and usually does not cause severe cracking and fragmentation until it has advanced. Unfortunately, this is an issue that affects a surprising number of homes around State College, PA. The chalky, limestone and loamy soils found in Pennsylvania provide excellent drainage in most cases, but they are less cohesive than clay-based soils. This has some benefits (for example, a lower rate of water reactivity and less chance of soil swelling or shrinkage), but the main drawback is that these soils can be weak or unstable if the climate is too wet or the drainage systems around your home start to fail. When this happens, subsidence is a very likely outcome. You will recognize subsidence in a number of ways. Visible unevenness is one of the most advanced signs of subsidence, but it is not the only sign. Other signs of subsidence include cracking, sagging flooring, sunken concrete slabs, dampness, and humidity. In fact, the problem signs associated with it can be incredibly varied thanks to the plethora of secondary and tertiary issues that are often connected to subsidence and foundation damage as a whole. Thankfully, there are solutions for subsidence on the market these days. Foundation piers, both push and helical, can be used to stabilize and restore a property to full health.