Cracks & Subsidence Expert – French Riviera
Have you noticed cracks appearing in your property on the French Riviera? This may be due to clay shrinkage and swelling (RGA), a natural phenomenon affecting buildings throughout the Alpes-Maritimes and Var regions. Cassini Expertise provides comprehensive RGA diagnosis, structural assessment, and expert reports to help you secure insurance coverage and plan remediation. The French government has recognised RGA as a natural catastrophe (catastrophe naturelle), and many homeowners are entitled to compensation – but only with a proper expert diagnosis.
The French Riviera’s geology is particularly prone to RGA. Clay-rich soils in areas like Antibes, Cannes, Grasse, Nice, Toulon, and Draguignan expand when wet and shrink during dry periods, causing the ground to move beneath foundations. This movement can lead to a range of defects: from fine hairline cracks in plaster to significant structural cracks in load-bearing walls, uneven floors, sticking doors and windows, and even foundation failure. We differentiate between cosmetic cracking and structural damage, using crack monitoring gauges, moisture meters, and thermal imaging to assess the severity.
Our RGA service includes a detailed site inspection, soil analysis (if required), crack monitoring over a period of weeks or months, and a comprehensive report that documents the damage, identifies the cause, and recommends remedial works. We also assist with the catastrophe naturelle claim process, providing the technical evidence needed to support your insurance application. For properties that have already suffered significant movement, we can design a remediation plan, which may include underpinning, soil stabilisation, or drainage improvements.
We also handle other causes of cracking, such as thermal movement, poor construction, or seismic activity. Our reports are bilingual (English/French) and comply with French building standards and legal requirements. Whether you are a homeowner in Mougins, a property manager in Cannes, or a lawyer handling a subsidence case in Toulon, Cassini Expertise provides the independent, expert advice you need. Contact us for a crack and subsidence survey on the French Riviera.
Our services
Cassini Expertise covers departments 06, 83 and 13:
- VEFA survey 06, 83 and 13 – Handover and dispute support
- Crack and clay shrink-swell (RGA) diagnosis – PACA region
- Building second opinion – Construction insurance and court-supervised surveys
- RGA and CATNAT survey – Drought compensation claims
- Support for lawyers in court-appointed expert proceedings
Other locations
- Home – Cassini Expertise
- Building Expert & Geotechnical Expert – Alpes-Maritimes (06)
Further reading: Building Expert Toulon – VEFA, Cracks & Building Defects · Building Expert – Var (83), French Riviera · Clay Soil & Subsidence Risk by Commune – French Riviera
📅 Last updated 24/10/2026 - Cassini Expertise, independent building expert – departments 06, 83 and 13.