Vibrationdamage.com

"I'm just doing a job"

If you have talked with a construction crew in the context of damage done to your home or business, there is a good chance you have already heard this trope. I have personally talked with a half dozen crews from different companies, when they were violating their own company's rules in using an excavator bucket to demolish pavement by pounding on it. All but one crew told me just that. I have even seen the statement in deposition testimony from construction crew members in vibration damage litigation cases.

What that statement really translates to is that, in the minds of the construction crew, they are not responsible for anything because they are "following orders" to do the job. In most cases, they were actually violating their company's policies. The photo shows a 2025 example where, despite having the right equipment on-site to do the job properly and safely, the crew chose to demolish pavement by pounding on it.

Whatever all the implications might be of such statements, they show that many construction crews have little, if any, concern about whether their actions will damage surrounding homes. Much of the serious vibration damage done can be traced, ultimately, to that approach and attitude.

Pounding on pavement - redux, redux, redux

The single most damaging operation used in the project in front of my home was pounding with an excavator bucket to break pavement. It was primarily responsible for damaging at least 13 homes. Damage patterns suggest a minimum vibration velocity in that example of over 10 in/sec - way above the U.S. FTA standard of 0.2 in./sec.

I have since had to go out and have a talk with construction crews from two other companies doing the same thing at the same intersection. Lest you think I made any difference, there is now a new, fourth example at the same intersection involving a different construction company. In the attached photos, taken 7/11/25, you can see the bucket positioned over the pavement, not the dirt. Once again, I cautioned the crew of the damage potential. They continued pounding a couple more times before finally stopping.

Most construction companies forbid such pavement pounding, because it's hard on heavy equipment. Whether they care about the damage potential for surrounding homes is another question. With four examples at one intersection, you can see that such banned pounding is a real damage risk. Over 60 visitors to Vibrationdamage.com have reported construction pounding incidents, nearly all in connection with damage to their homes. If you hear the sound of pounding on pavement with heavy equipment, you should start documenting the operation immediately.

Seeking help - the best way

Most people with vibration damage claims find that they need help to pursue the damages with recalcitrant construction companies and insurers. Whether that help comes from an attorney, an expert, or even us at Vibrationdamage.com, there are some types of information that you should have available before you contact the help:

1. the distance between your home or structure and the site of the work. For moving operations, the distance of closest approach should be known. You can easily get the distances from Google Maps online or Google Earth satellite photos. Having the distances allow the calculation of likely vibration velocities for your location and the type of job being done.

2. documentation of both the damage seen AND the construction operations which you believe might be responsible for the damage. Typically, this will be photos and video, but may include documentation of other sorts. If you don't have all of this data, then provide a summary of the equipment types you have seen operating on the job.

3. any information you have regarding the funder of the work, any web sites which have useful information about the project - including ones on which you have placed documentation.

With knowledge of these factors, you should be able to get a fairly rapid reading on the likelihood of damage and its cause. Without it, you will spend more money and time than is necessary.

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