Sinking concrete path - Help!

[spin0304]

We have a concrete path which runs around 3 sides of our house. The side that is causing a problem has a retaining wall on one side, which is the boundary line between us and our neighbour, and the exterior wall of our house on the other side of it. Over the boundary wall is a drop of approx 3 or 4ft into our neighbours driveway.

Spirit level confirms the retaining wall is still perfectly straight.

The concrete path is sinking on one side (the retaining wall side) which is then causing the concrete to rise/create a gap between the path and the brickwork of our house.

Any suggestions on remedial work that doesn't involve a sledge hammer and starting all over again?

PS. House is 2 years old - builder is useless - company that issued warranty/guarantee with property have gone bust!

 

[r896neo]

Gently drop a sledge hammer onto it. (from 6 inches or so, not enough to damage it) Does the concrete sound hollow in any places? Are there weep holes in the retaining wall?

When building a house with a retaining wall so close the area behind the wall gets filled with all the site rubbish. A good builder will only have put hardcore rubble etc in here which will provide drainage and not sink if retained properly but a bad builder will just use it for any old rubbish he doesn't want to take away to dump. You can then get extreme settlement over a year or two as anything not hard rots and or sinks.

Don't fret though this is just one possibility! A few photos and description of how much it has moved etc would help.

 

[spin0304]

Thanks for the suggestion. Will try the 'tapping for hollowness' when this rain stops!

The sunken side has dropped by approx 3 inches. Will attach photos - again, when the rain stops!

 

[r896neo]

Also check are there weep holes in the wall.

 

[Thermo]

whatever the cause, there is unlikely to be any form of remedial work, that will preserve the path. whatever is done it will still be noticeable, so out with the sledge hammer!