Some people claim a house settles in its first few years. But, isn’t the settling process really infinite? It may not even be asymptotic depending on the soil conditions, right? Or, do really old houses stop settling at some point? If so, when? - Jinx
There should be little,if any,settlement due to soil conditions.Construction takes place on virgin soil,and appropriate footers are designed for the load bearing qualities of the earth.Some codes permit compaction in lifts,but that isn’t common in domiciles,unless all available land is at premium.
However,referring to framed (wood) or certain masonry methods,"settling" takes place largely in the first years as moisture is lost and compression set takes place.
For your second-to-last question,I'd say yes,but would prefer a clear definition of "settling".My house makes “settling” noises every so often, although much less than my parents’. Mine was built in 1928, theirs was built in 1978. Every so often mine lets out a pop and a crack, though.
Our front porch sank about eight inches this year. It’s a pier-style porch, and the carpenter attributed it to the drought and heat. Our columns were literally hanging from the ceiling while the floor had fallen away. Scary. The house is 100 years old. Though it has been recently and extensively remodelled, its essential framing and what-not are all original.
We live in an apartment building that was rehabbed into condo units about 30 years ago. The building is 100 years old. Occasionally, cracks and separations appear in walls, in corners or at the base. I assume this is due to the continuous shifting of something, a shifting I call settling.
My home is going on 100yrs. I have been around for 50yrs. .017 of an inch for the added porch, less for the added back porch. Good soils and drainage are the key.
My house is 71 years old, and still settling. One reason could be the addition or removal of heavy furniture, like large bookcases or pianos.
** How Long for a House to Settle?**
Well, if it hasn’t found Mr. Right by the time it’s 40 it might have to lower it’s standards and settle for someone who is less than perfect.
My last home was over 60 years old and still made settling sounds. My aunts home is over 100 years old and they will see cracks in the basement floor where they had previously patched. Not major ones, just hairline cracks.
IMO this is much more likely to be expansion & contraction of the wood (due to changes in heat & humidity), than settling.
Wood moves a lot, hence houses make noise. But I wouldn’t assume the foundations are moving.
As has been said, it depends a lot on soil conditions. A friend lives in a neighborhood that, they’ve learned recently, is sinking some due to our drought. Apparently an aquifer or something underneath the neighborhood is now almost completely dried up.
Changes to the water table will do it. Another good one is to plant a lovely little tree near the property that grows into a gigantic water-sucking monster over the course of several decades causing subsidence. Then when it finally dies or gets chopped down, the water under the house will build up again and cause heave.