Crack in render - need to worry?

[RrogerD]

Cracks present in the render just to the top and right of the window and door (see photos). There's no sign of movement on the inside or anywhere else about the building. I'm also not sure how long the cracks have been there.

Is this something that I need to be concerned about?

Do I simply chisel off the cracked area and make-good, blending it in?

Or is this signs of something more sinister?

The property, although it looks Victorian, is actually a conversion from a garage done in the early 1980s.

Thanks

 

[foxhole]

Is the wall bulging?

 

[RrogerD]

Is the wall bulging?

Not that I've noticed.
I'm thinking / hoping that it is historic, it has moss growing in the crack.

 

[jj4091]

If you are concerned it is still moving then fit a glass tell-tale for a couple of months.

 

[RrogerD]

If you are concerned it is still moving then fit a glass tell-tale for a couple of months.

Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of time. It's on a property I am looking at buying and planning to complete in a couple of weeks.

 

[lostinthelight]

If its on the front of the property have a look if you can see it on google street view which if anything like our area is quite a few years old

 

[foxhole]

Oh so not your property, would help to know that. If it’s an ex garage then there is a risk the foundations don’t run under what would have been the mains doors, saves a few £’s not supporting an area which will take no weight.If the opening was later infilled without foundations it could be a serious problem.

 

[RrogerD]

Oh so not your property, would help to know that. If it’s an ex garage then there is a risk the foundations don’t run under what would have been the mains doors, saves a few £’s not supporting an area which will take no weight.If the opening was later infilled without foundations it could be a serious problem.

Mmm. Oh dear. Now that does sound like a worry.

Would it be a structural engineer or a building surveyor that I should be asking to investigate further? In my experience, surveyors tend to just look and comment on possibilities rather than actual saying what it is.

 

[foxhole]

Would need a hole out front down to foundation level to confirm .

 

[RrogerD]

Would need a hole out front down to foundation level to confirm .

Oh dear. Thanks.

I've made contact with a structural engineer to see what if anything, they can offer. Also, I'll be attempting to trace the previous owner (to the current one) re anything they can offer. Unfortunately there are no building regs records nor drawings within the planning permission portal.

It may be that it is historic, in which case nothing to worry about.

 

[jj4091]

Unless it is ridiculously cheap then I think I would walk away or at least delay until the owners have supplied evidence of compliance with building regs. & a structural engineers report. As you say a surveyor will just say there is a large crack in the front wall.I don't think I would be paying extra fees.

 

[RrogerD]

Unless it is ridiculously cheap then I think I would walk away or at least delay until the owners have supplied evidence of compliance with building regs. & a structural engineers report. As you say a surveyor will just say there is a large crack in the front wall.I don't think I would be paying extra fees.

Thanks for this post. This was just what I needed to help in making a sensible decision.

I've now written to my solicitor stating my requirements as such. We'll await a reply. At least whatever the outcome, we'll have all of the information whether to pull out or indeed ask for a substantial reduction.

And no, it was not being sold at a ridiculously cheap figure sadly.

 

[KenGMac]

That cracking could be being caused by a rusting Steel lintel? if that elevation was at one time a garage then it is possible the door was full width??

If so then the damage should be easily repairable

In one of the posts above [lostinthelight] if you use Google Street view then you will get an idea of age of crack? I use this on a regular basis.

Does that entrance door open and close easily? Ditto for the Window sash.

Ken

 

[RrogerD]

That cracking could be being caused by a rusting Steel lintel? if that elevation was at one time a garage then it is possible the door was full width??

If so then the damage should be easily repairable

In one of the posts above [lostinthelight] if you use Google Street view then you will get an idea of age of crack? I use this on a regular basis.

Does that entrance door open and close easily? Ditto for the Window sash.

Ken

No, the streetview is as it is in person, complete with cracks the same. It is possible that it is historic but I have to say, I am nervous.

I'm in the process of chasing the vendor for any records that she may have plus, probably going to try the Records office later in the week.

I just need some photography of the street from a few years back. Unfortunately, prior to the digital era, these are a bit few and far between.

 

[KenGMac]

Sorry, my explanation was not clear.

In Street view you can interrogate old images of the same view, meaning you can go back in time [generally] a few years at a time.

Suggest you [if you wish] play around with the various options on this web site, different versions of S/V have differing options available.

Ken.