Overview:
A concrete crisis is quietly devastating rural Massachusetts communities, where pyrrhotite-tainted foundations are causing homes to crumble. Residents say the state has failed to act, possibly due to political divides between blue leadership and red-leaning small towns. With insurance companies refusing coverage and property values collapsing, homeowners are left stranded. Presence News visited Wales, MA, where the damage is visible and severe, as residents increasingly turn to the federal government for help.
Wales, MA-In parts of rural Massachusetts, entire communities are watching their homes slowly fall apart—literally. A Facebook group, Massachusetts Residents Against Crumbling Concrete, has become a gathering place for frustrated homeowners. They say a contractor once used pyrrhotite-tainted concrete to build dozens of houses.
The mineral pyrrhotite, when exposed to oxygen and water, reacts and causes concrete to expand and crack over time. What looked like sturdy foundations are now riddled with spreading fractures. This situation leaves houses unsafe, unsellable, and in some cases nearly uninhabitable.
Presence News Visits Wales, Massachusetts
Presence News visits Wales, Massachusetts, where many residents are now living with visibly deteriorating foundations. Large cracks creep up basement walls, and in some cases, concrete is chipping away entirely. The homes themselves are often otherwise well-maintained and desirable—but without structural integrity, their value has plummeted.
Adding to the crisis, no homeowner’s insurance or title insurance policies are stepping in to cover the staggering repair costs. For most families, fixing or replacing a foundation would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. This amount is far more than most can afford.
State is not helping with any assistance or recommendations
Despite years of complaints, residents allege that the state of Massachusetts has largely ignored the problem. Some suggest politics may play a role. While Massachusetts is overwhelmingly a blue state, many of the small towns hit hardest by this crisis lean red. Locals believe this political disconnect has left them abandoned. Thus, they are forced to turn to the federal government for possible relief.
The situation leaves homeowners trapped. They cannot sell their properties, they cannot secure financial help through insurance, and the state has provided little in the way of aid.
For families in Wales and beyond, the crumbling foundations are more than just a construction flaw. They represent a slow-moving disaster with no clear end in sight.
Sources:
- Massachusetts Residents Against Crumbling Concrete (Facebook Group)
- Presence News reporting
- U.S. Geological Survey – Pyrrhotite and concrete deterioration
Editor’s Note: This article contains community claims and speculation about political motivations. Presence News strives for accuracy and will continue investigating the issue. Many props to State of Connecticut. It is able to provide up to $190,000 for homeowners to fix this issue. (As stated in the attached YouTube video on this article)
