As many as 34,000 home foundations in Eastern Connecticut may be failing. A quarry in Willington, Connecticut was a longstanding source of aggregate used in concrete for building construction. The quarry contained a vein of the mineral pyrrhotite, which contaminated the aggregate, and so, the concrete used in foundations. In time, the mineral reacts with water and air, causing the concrete to crumble and foundations to fail.
The quarry’s products were used in an estimated 20,000 residential construction projects over 30 years. In some towns, dwellings comprising 30% of its taxbase were built during the years of most concern, 1983-2013. And recently, some municipal buildings were found to be affected, necessitating replacement.
Repairs proved ineffective. Replacement of the foundation is costly but the only currently effective solution. The process involves detaching accessory structures and utilities, lifting the house structure, demolishing the defective foundation and pouring a replacement foundation.
Homeowner claims were denied by insurers. FEMA declined assistance.
Homeowners formed grassroots organizations to advocate for assistance and provide information (see Coalition links below). The State of Connecticut Insurance Department warned insurers not to cancel insurance based on such a claim. US Representatives Joe Courtney and John B. Larson, with the support of US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, obtained income tax relief for homeowners which now may span several years, and have sought HUD funding. The Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) assists towns and homeowners with pertinent information and its site is frequently updated.
The Connecticut legislature passed a bill which the Governor signed implementing the collection of a $12 surcharge on every homeowner insurance policy to fund a captive insurance entity to distribute funds for relief, almost entirely for crumbling concrete foundation owners (CFSIC). The surcharge should raise about $9 million. The state is authorized to borrow about $100 million. Remediation costs are likely to exceed $1 billion (source: CT Mirror, Mark Pazniokas, 5/5/2018 link below).
The Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company (CFSIC) was created as a solution for handling documented homeowner claims. It is a captive insurer, in that it is not a conventional insurance company, but a special entity created to handle claims specific to the defective concrete issue in this state. This entity is funded by state bonds issued periodically. If the funds to the CFSIC are delayed or would cease, the CFSIC would have no capacity to pay out claims. That said, the CFSIC has no termination date.
The scale of this disaster remains unknown. Please note that reports limiting the affected time period and source to by the Mottes quarry material may be inaccurate. The material is naturally present in some quarries and so it could be currently supplied for concrete pours. As far as I have been able to determine, there are no pertinent standards for oversight of this contaminant at the quarry level.
Since defective concrete predominantly affects residential properties, it is a residential appraisal issue. To provide information to appraisers, agents, and members of the public, I will add links to active groups and political representatives as well as news articles on this Renée Healion Appraisals website. The reader is cautioned that this is an unfolding issue and I am attempting to keep my links current. If there are any corrections or suggestions, please feel free to email me.
Renée Healion, SRA, ASA
2015 comprehensive TV news account:
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/investigations/video/Crumbling-Foundations_Hartford-318078561.html
2018 good explanation of problem, signs, and solution: https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Childree-Foundation-Explainer_Hartford-406623505.html
US Representatives pages:
https://courtney.house.gov/services/crumbling-concrete-foundations
https://larson.house.gov/issues/tax-relief-crumbling-foundations
Map of claims has expanded:
https://ctmirror.org/files/2017/03/Crumbling-foundation-map.jpg
https://ctmirror.org/2018/05/05/ct-house-passes-relief-plan-crumbling-foundations/
IRS Tax relief:
State of CT and Council of Governments:
http://crcog.org/concrete-vendors/
http://crcog.org/2018/04/captive-selects-superintendent/
https://portal.ct.gov/DCP/Trade-Practices-Division/Deteriorating-Concrete-Foundations
https://foundationtesting.org/
http://crcog.org/2018/03/doh-expands-testing/
CFSIC site:
https://crumblingfoundations.org/
New Guidelines Added for Relief Program Active on Jan 10, 2019
https://crumblingfoundations.org/presidents-message/
The homeowner coalition’s site and FB page below:
https://www.facebook.com/Connecticut-Coalition-Against-Crumbling-Basements-1068591843193197/
CT-DOH Homeowner Advocate below:
https://www.ct.gov/doh/cwp/view.asp?a=4513&Q=599270&PM=1
Canada & US could share solutions, part of a WTNH series:
Manchester has an extensive list of links:
http://assessmentandcollection1.townofmanchester.org/index.cfm/defective-concrete-and-crumbling-foundation-information/
Reports emerge of non-residential buildings with crumbling concrete in Tolland school and fire department:
https://www.wfsb.com/news/tolland-school-found-to-have-a-crumbling-foundation/article_46df7dfe-fe4c-11e8-8563-3b8ea5d4c757.html
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/School-Firehouse-in-Tolland-Show-Foundation-Problems-441759723.html
Two insurers promise $10.5 million to affected insureds
https://www.captiveinternational.com/news/the-hartford-and-liberty-mutual-to-assist-crumbling-foundations-captive-2648
Journal Inquirer: "Concrete Hurts Grand Lists", towns lose revenue
Journal Inquirer: Two bills to prevent deficiency judgments
Stafford, Ellington, Vernon awarded grant for testing concrete
"Crumbling Foundation Repairs To Halt Until State Pays Up" WSHU http://www.tinyurl.com/yyzeecg6
June 5, 2019
"The General Assembly has approved a comprehensive crumbling foundation bill that aims to protect unsuspecting buyers from purchasing affected homes, establishes a low-interest loan program for repairs, allows condominium owners to participate in the captive insurance company, and develops more cost-effective methods for repairs."
August 2019
CFSIC Head resigns early, citing funding issues, offers comprehensive data from 1,000 claims, warns of more defective foundations to come
"Authorities ignoring data that can alleviate crumbling foundations crisis, warns captive"
October 2019
Concrete chief to stay on longer; progress on foundation replacements
"World's Lessons on Concrete" International advocates visit CT
January 2020
Massachusetts: $350,000,000 needed in homeowner help
April 2020
USGS publishes fact sheet and map showing US pyrrhotite distribution
Pyrrhotite occurs in rocks in many areas of the United States.
Links for download
https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/fs20203017
January 2021
Manchester grand list grows 1.47% on construction projects, motor vehicles, while crumbling foundations decreased home values
March 2021
First condo buildings are lifted for foundation replacement
News, including list of 10 towns with most defective concrete claims
https://news.yahoo.com/more-concrete-aid-may-way-150100717.html
May 2021
CT Crumbling Foundation gets funding boost from State
July 2021
Rebuilt elementary school opens in Tolland
https://news.yahoo.com/finishing-touches-put-birch-grove-200900714.html
November 2021
Realtors video news: time limit on transfer of concrete claim to buyer
https://youtu.be/uGpl2p4F0x4?t=78
March 2022
Crumbling Concrete Foundations Fund Milestone: 500 households back in their CT homes in 3 years
January 2023
UConn Receives Grant to Continue Work With Crumbling Concrete
$4 million to continue its work on preventing, detecting, and lessening the impact of defective concrete on walls and foundations
February 2023
Please don't waive home inspections!
July 2023
Tolland, hard hit by defective concrete, gets $1 million state bond
October 2024
1,000th home fixed And commentary on remaining problem
https://www.wshu.org/connecticut-news/2024-10-15/ct-homes-crumbling-foundations-replaced
January 2025
Grassroots help for Massachusetts homeowners with defective concrete
Massachusetts State Legislature fails to help homeowners
https://www.yahoo.com/news/crumbling-foundations-attempt-help-homeowners-215232071.html