Do I need wall ties fitted?

[mids99]

Basically we have a crack on the porch wall where it meets the main house (the porch was built after the original house). The vertical crack is on the side wall on one side only. We were getting some plastering done on the inside of the porch, and when the plasterer guy took off the loose plaster in that corner we found there is a small gap between the porch wall and the main house wall. There doesnt seem to be any wall ties on this side (but there are some on the other side).

The crack was hidden by the previous owners of the house by wallpaper - which we have taken off. So it looks like it has been like this for sometime.

Do we need to get the wall tied in? or can the small gap just be filled in by a bricklayer and then plastered over afterwards?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[noseall]

It seems that you may have inadequate foundations under the porch and that it has rotated way from the main building. Provided the settlement is not ongoing, then fill and forget.

However, if the movement is still occurring then you need to investigate why, i.e. leaking drains, clay ground drying up etc, and seek to resolve it.

Tying the wall back at this stage will not achieve all that much unless it is done extensively. It would be cheaper to re-build.

 

[alittlerespect]

From what you have said it sounds like the one wall was not tied into the building! BIG MISTAKE!

The only solution I can think of besides rebuilding the wall is to use some specialist wall ties. Have a look at the 'helifix.com' website or there were company's advertising helifix components on this site.

I mention helifix as they are simply 'the best'!

Not a simple job, but if you are a DIYer you shouldn't have too many problems! What you will need to do is 'stitch' the porch wall to the house wall, best way would be to stitch the ties in at around 450mm vertical centres start of at say 150mm above ground level - 2 helifix ties per position (one from inside one from outside). Disturbance to the fabric of the building will be minimal and should only need a bit of hole filling to match existing.

Note. You may not get an internal fix at 150mm above ground level, but don't worry!!

Regards

 

[^woody^]

Porches, and extensions move differently to the main house

The fact that you say this crack was hidden by paper, indicates that it is not progressive movement.

Point the joint externally with flexible mastic. Plaster internally. Yes it might hairline crack again, but that is common. Or put a bit of mesh across before plastering

If you like, fix some L shape straps horizontally to the porch and house walls before plastering. But by the sound of things, it does not need it

 

[mids99]

Thanks for all your replies.

Woody, thats was my opinion. The wallpaper we took off seemed to have been there for some time, so the fact that the crack couldn't be seen until we took the wallpaper off did suggest to me that it was a longstanding movement.

We have had a quote for someone to come and tie the wall in and point the external crack etc at cost of £340+VAT, but as we having a lot of other costs seriously thinking of just getting it plastered and pointed on the outside. Where can you get flexible mastic from? Is it easy to do?

Thanks