There are few areas of forensics as tricky as Cracks, Settlement and Leakage. It’s hard to get right and easy to get wrong.

• Take concrete cracks. Concrete will almost always crack because it’s the nature of the way it cures and shrinks. So a cracked floor is not necessarily a sign of damage.

• Or take stained and blotched wood construction materials. They are often discoloured before being installed. And so mottling is not necessarily a sign of leakage and mould.

• Or take the corner of a poured concrete foundation where the brick rests. A large diagonal crack can be mistaken for damage due to fire or other loss. But it might (or might not) be caused by the naturally occurring expansion of the brick and contraction of the concrete.

• Or take mould found in new construction. Propane heaters used in the construction industry can pump hundreds of litres of moisture into a building. Moisture that gets absorbed into the wood, drywall and concrete – and then released back into the building when it is occupied. If not properly ventilated, condensation can occur and mould can result.

If you want to avoid cracks in your case and adverse settlements, call the true experts at GK. Ron Koerth can be reached at 416.368.1700.