Vertical Crack through bricks - 3 storey townhouse

[JoStu001]

Afternoon all,



Am new to the forum, please be gentle.



I’ve just noticed that we have a long vertical brick crack down the front of our house. We’re in a 3 storey townhouse built in 2006. Of note, when we had the house redecorated 2 years ago, where the ceilings met the wall had become ‘messy’, the house builders had using scrimping tape (think that’s the right term), that’s what the decorator said 2 years ago. Since we’ve had it redecorated it’s started to do the same in some places, I assume this could be related to the crack down the front of the house. This ‘find’ has got me quite alarmed, more than happy to go down the building insurance claim route but would really appreciate any advice/steerage anyone can give beforehand.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[^woody^]

Thermal cracks from common shrinkage of that elevation. Unrelated to any plaster cracks.

The correct repair would be forming a movement joint.

 

[JoStu001]

Hi Woody,
Many thanks for the response.
So, should I be overly concerned please?
I assume a builder would be able to repair?
Thank you for taking care the time to reply.

 

[^woody^]

No you should not be concerned. Not a major structural issue.

The only thing to be aware of is if your builder carries out a rigid repair, there is risk of it cracking again. Not a certainty, but a probability.

 

[robinbanks]

The correct repair would be forming a movement joint.

Dare say the building has already done that itself

 

[catlad]

In one photo you have two drain pipes and the brickwork doesn't seem to match, has there been something attached?

 

[JoStu001]

In one photo you have two drain pipes and the brickwork doesn't seem to match, has there been something attached?

The drainpipe you see on the right is set back, it’s part of a pair of flats.

 

[JoStu001]

No you should not be concerned. Not a major structural issue.

The only thing to be aware of is if your builder carries out a rigid repair, there is risk of it cracking again. Not a certainty, but a probability.

That’s reassuring, your response is again much appreciated, thank you.

 

[catlad]

The drainpipe you see on the right is set back, it’s part of a pair of flats.

So its not attached?

 

[JoStu001]

So its not attached?

That may have been badly worded. A picture paints a thousand words, I'm the 3 storey on the left, as you can see from this angle the other drainpipe is attached but to another 2 properties (flats)

 

[robinbanks]

Does your front wall get a lot of sun?

 

[JoStu001]

Does your front wall get a lot of sun?

It does, sunrise until early to mid-afternoon.

 

[^woody^]

Rapid changes in temperature and fast drying are the common causes for that type of crack in that location.

What's curious, is the crack at ground level and how that is on a very small panel of brickwork at the side, and equally, how the crack then swings around to the front elevation. It would normally be expected that that crack would be just on the front elevation.

This would not be wear and tear, and may be covered on an building insurance policy. They could then diagnose and specify a repair.

 

[Koolpc]

Might it be wise to check the drains too?

 

[JoStu001]

Rapid changes in temperature and fast drying are the common causes for that type of crack in that location.

What's curious, is the crack at ground level and how that is on a very small panel of brickwork at the side, and equally, how the crack then swings around to the front elevation. It would normally be expected that that crack would be just on the front elevation.

This would not be wear and tear, and may be covered on a building insurance policy. They could then diagnose and specify a repair.

Hi Woody,

The crack is only on the front elevation, not round the side towards the 2 flats.
I’ve thought about an insurance claim but wanted some opinions/advice first.