Big fissure exposing gap in Ariz. regulations -
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Published on: 8/12/2005
Last Visited: 8/12/2005
Once a foundation cracks, there is really nothing that can be done, said Larry Fellows, recently retired director of the Arizona Geological Survey.
"If it's unevenly settling, you get big other cracks that form inside the house," Fellows said.
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Fellows, formerly with the Arizona Geological Survey, said sometimes people pass the buck."It becomes a problem for somebody else," Fellows said."Sometimes, I think they are not disclosed, and I think sometimes Realtors don't want to know because it creates a problem for them that they don't have answers for."
With escalating land values in the area, some property owners have filled unsightly areas to either knowingly conceal fissures or cover what they believe is a wash.When fissures are filled, it causes even more problems.
Fellows said rain is the biggest enemy to backfilled fissures."A lot of times, if you have them filled up, and it rains, they will reopen," Fellows said.