[Hal :-)]

Originally Posted by Bill-n-Brillo

Footers are poured for the homes then slabs on top.

Looks as though there is the appearance of a footer on that front corner of the house, set back in behind where the downspout is crossing horizontally. Or maybe I'm seeing things.......

Not sure of the code requirements for depth of the footers in FL. Might not be more than a foot or so! Certainly not like 3'-4' or more like what might be experienced 'up north'.

Bill

I agree with you B-n-B. The house looks solid. Clearly that front porch is a floater and it has settled. It's no fun, but I don't see it as major damage. I think they knock it out, fill it in and pour new. It would be nice to have sinkhole coverage in this case, but even without it I think is an easy fix and back to enjoying life in The Villages.

Not sure, but I'm guessing this is the house. Have to do a drive-by.
1631 Lakewood Dr The Villages, FL - Google Maps

[mtdjed]

Know your insurance and what sinkhole coverage is. There is Catastrophic and sinkhole activity. Catastrophic is the house is in the hole and activity is the doors no longer close. That is more likely and we have had two cases recently in the Village of Caroline. Both were activity and involved the total value of the home. Important that you understand your coverage.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by KEVIN & JOSIE

Just asking, I found this article that shows a major sinkhole in Leesburg, in 2011, which really is not that far away. Just trying to get a grasp on how common these are. Not use to seeing the earth open up overnight with such nasty results.

Leesburg, Florida. June 27th, 2011. | thesinkhole.org

Yep, pretty close. Google maps indicates about 16 miles from The Villages to Crosby Street in Leesburg.
Don't worry.....be happy.

[CarGuys]

And I remember all the Flak I recieved about being a worry wart over sinkholes with the last round of questions.

I sure feel good knowing that I have the insurance to cover our new home from major to minor.

[swimdawg]

Originally Posted by CarGuys

And I remember all the Flak I recieved about being a worry wart over sinkholes with the last round of questions.

I sure feel good knowing that I have the insurance to cover our new home from major to minor.

Yes, you were the smart one.

You can now relax. Enjoy that popcorn.

[thistrucksforyou]

I would not have to worry about this or any other problem mother nature could throw at me...If you had a wife like I do you would have insurance on things you would probably never need....I still live up north and I bet you I have buffalo stampeeding through my house coverage....

[senior citizen]

...

[graciegirl]

If there was sinkhole activity near your home it very well may not be reported here by the homeowner. However, it would seem that legally that you would have to make that disclosure on selling unless it happened in an easement nearby.

It is something that you can choose to protect yourself from by buying insurance or save the money so as to repair or replace the damage unless it would be the horrible scenario where the whole house collapsed into a hole and I don't think that has happened....or has it? I have only been here four years.

To the person who said there had been sinkhole activity in two places in the village of Caroline, which is pretty close to LSL, (for those not familiar to the area,) how bad was the damage, and was it repaired and how was it repaired? It helps to know this for those who worry. Also IF there is activity in your village, does it make sinkhole insurance go up or become unavailable? Does anyone know about the insurance issue?

When the ground is prepared for construction, huge pipes are placed underground and there is always some settling to the ground that has been disturbed during construction. Sand is a new element for many of us. Can an engineer tell us exactly how sinkholes are fixed?

And here are hugs for all who are worrying. Of course it is our life savings in this property. We need to seek more information about insurance protection and repair and rate of occurance.

I know that the vacant lots around us are regularly run on back and forth by huge trucks and large equipment here to do other stuff and I am guessing that may be done to compact the sand.

[skyguy79]

Originally Posted by CarGuys

And I remember all the Flak I recieved about being a worry wart over sinkholes with the last round of questions.

I sure feel good knowing that I have the insurance to cover our new home from major to minor.

You been listening to Cole Porter's "Every Time We Say Goodbye"?

[skyguy79]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

If there was sinkhole activity near your home it very well may not be reported here by the homeowner. However, it would seem that legally that you would have to make that disclosure on selling unless it happened in an easement nearby.

To the person who said there had been sinkhole activity in two places in the village of Caroline, which is pretty close to LSL, (for those not familiar to the area,) how bad was the damage, and was it repaired and how was it repaired? It helps to know this for those who worry. Also IF there is activity in your village, does it make sinkhole insurance go up or become unavailable? Does anyone know about the insurance issue?

When the ground is prepared for construction, huge pipes are placed underground and there is always some settling to the ground that has been disturbed during construction. Sand is a new element for many of us. Can an engineer tell us exactly how sinkholes are fixed? (unrelated parts of this post were removed)

Gracie, I can't answer all your questions, but would like to give some input. First, I don't know if it's the same in FL as it is in NY, but when we closed on our home up there a few months back, there was a place on the paperwork where we had to disclosure or indicate any problems. You didn't have to specify anything if you haven't had any problems, but you did if you had. We didn't have any sinkhole problems be we did have slight flooding last summer from storm drain backup, coming from river rising caused by a hurricane followed up the coast from Florida that passed through our area. The waters were from the run in the mountains where the hurricane made it's deposits. As a result we also had to have an engineer's elevation report done or the buyer wouldn't have bought the house. Your having closed on your house in Hadley, you might recall if you had to sign or initial any similar declarations like I've described.

I'm not an engineer and not an expert on fixing sinkholes, but I did see a site that showed how it's done a while back. I didn't book mark the site, but here's a web page that does describe two procedures: SINKHOLE REPAIR PROCESS

Here is also a good post on the subject of sinkhole insurance that was posted by 784caroline last summer: https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...328-post1.html

[tommy steam]

Originally Posted by Advogado

There have been a number of sinkholes in The Villages-- generally unreported by The Daily Sun. I wonder of the reporting of this one was an editorial oversight or if the Sun is actually becoming a newspaper.

I dont think that the Sun wants to give any press about sink holes. Bad for TV overall bussiness...My take is to have insurance for this .

[gego3650]

I called my insurance company in reference to sink hole coverage. If the house falls in the hole the answer is covered. Complete coverage requied a physical inspection and sink hole will be denied if there is a concrete crack anywhere. The agent told me to forget it a most homes will not pass. Who does not have a driveway crack. That will deny additional coverage.

[CaptJohn]

Originally Posted by gego3650

I called my insurance company in reference to sink hole coverage. If the house falls in the hole the answer is covered. Complete coverage requied a physical inspection and sink hole will be denied if there is a concrete crack anywhere. The agent told me to forget it a most homes will not pass. Who does not have a driveway crack. That will deny additional coverage.

Just another way for insurance companies to avoid coverage but appearing to 'offer' coverage. Most all concrete has cracks on the most solid of foundations. It's what concrete does, expand and contract with temperature changes. Large slabs have 'expansion joints' put in to control it. Some slabs are prepared in advance with saws that cut in grooves to try and make the crack appear at that point. This is everywhere, not just in TV.

[Carla B]

Originally Posted by CaptJohn

Just another way for insurance companies to avoid coverage but appearing to 'offer' coverage. Most all concrete has cracks on the most solid of foundations. It's what concrete does, expand and contract with temperature changes. Large slabs have 'expansion joints' put in to control it. Some slabs are prepared in advance with saws that cut in grooves to try and make the crack appear at that point. This is everywhere, not just in TV.

What you said makes sense.

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by gego3650

I called my insurance company in reference to sink hole coverage. If the house falls in the hole the answer is covered. Complete coverage requied a physical inspection and sink hole will be denied if there is a concrete crack anywhere. The agent told me to forget it a most homes will not pass. Who does not have a driveway crack. That will deny additional coverage.

If I were you, I would check with another insurance company. The house-falls-in-the-hole scenario is covered by the mandatory "catastrophic-ground-collapse" provision. Sinkhole coverage is optional. I have it in my policy, and I am sure that a lot of Villagers have it too.

Of course, you could reasonably decide to run the sinkhole risk and not buy coverage. Here is the link to the Florida Department of Financial Services summary of the matter, which I previously posted. Sinkholes and Catastrophic Ground Collapse