Expert for settlement cracks (Lüneburg area) wanted

So without really being able to assess the whole thing (was not on site/no pictures etc.):

Lüneburg, without going into detail, are all sandy soils, possibly with groundwater. The vibrations can of course lead to a rearrangement/consolidation of the sand grains, which can also cause settlement in an existing building.

The settlements should, however, be completed now after the work has finished. According to the information (as it sounds), there is no danger to the structural stability of the building and it is purely an aesthetic problem.

At our construction sites, the problem was always resolved through informal channels. A painter who is going to be on site anyway comes by and fixes the damage. So talk to the client and try to resolve it that way.

Of course, you can hire an expert to determine the extent of the damage and also the age of the cracks. Also, whether there is still movement in the ground and the cracks are getting bigger. Whether the effort is worth it I will leave open.

Search for a guide on construction-related evidence preservation. By the way, the internet is full of court rulings and lawsuits that deal with proving causality in the absence of a prior inventory. Expert reports and counter-expert reports are the classic examples. It is not impossible to prove a connection through expert reports, but the effort and risk are enormous.

Hello,

Thank you very much for the feedback, I understand from it that an expert for a claim for damages is not really useful. The cracks are certainly not dramatic enough for that. I do not think the structural stability of our house is at risk.

An expert is also interesting for us because we are considering whether to demolish everything down to the basement or to leave the walls standing for our future renovation. If it would be better to reinforce the floor with a layer of concrete, demolition is the best method.

I wish you a Merry Christmas!