Cracks in the first floor while building extension

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Matthewson88

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We’re having a single storey rear extension done, and the steels went in last week. I noticed yesterday that 2 of the doors on the first floor no longer shut properly and there’s a big crack up the wall from the corner of one of the bedroom door frames. It seems like the doors are now at a slight angle, and the frames have shifted position. Is this normal?? I haven’t been able to speak to the builder yet but will when he’s back tomorrow morning. Slightly concerned my house is going to fall down.
 
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If your extension has involved knocking outside walls down to create an open plan, using large amounts of steelwork, then a bit of movement is possible. More than a few mm is a concern though. For this to appear so quickly, however suggest something that was supported now isn't.
 
The back came off the house a couple of weeks ago and it all seemed fine, but the supports came down yesterday and the cracks appeared quickly afterwards. So is this likely to be an issue with the actual steels?
 
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You can expect settlement cracks but you concerns need to be raised as it could be more serious.
I'd contact the builder asap
 
If that’s the case is it fixable? Will they need to take it out and do out again? Edited to add a picture of the crack in and above the door frame on the first floor
8A233EF4-3216-46B8-B676-084EBC8BC094.jpeg
 
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If they haven't packed it up properly but just used mortar, by now everything should be dry and stable.
It shouldn't happen really.
Make sure you note your concerns in writing in case there's further movement down the line.
I've seen steels put in with just some blobs of mortar, guaranteed failure.
 
Did the new steels support the floor joists by any chance as i take it that is an internal wall you have shown and the steels may be done properly and may well be that the joists that were not packed and supported into the web to keep them where they belong hence the movement in the floor causing the wall to slump. Raise the question with the builder about his methods and what the possible causes are and insist he takes action to at least stop it getting worse until he can get it packed back up.
 
My opinion is that there should be virtually no movement with this type of work.

Typically, builders with lift up the building when they should just be supporting it.

Then they don't pack properly so the building drops greater than the permitted design deflection of the beam.

Whilst if the support is suitable the building won't fall, I would not accept any "that's normal" nonsense.
 
Can you see what they packed the beams with? Any pics?
 
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Matthewson88 said:
We’re having a single storey rear extension done, and the steels went in last week. I noticed yesterday that 2 of the doors on the first floor no longer shut properly and there’s a big crack up the wall from the corner of one of the bedroom door frames. It seems like the doors are now at a slight angle, and the frames have shifted position. Is this normal?? I haven’t been able to speak to the builder yet but will when he’s back tomorrow morning. Slightly concerned my house is going to fall down.
Click to expand...
Did they even use strong boy props? I think you're right to be concerned. Take photographs for evidence. If two doors are binding and cracks have appeared, your house has experienced a fair bit of movement/settling.
For reference, a few years ago I removed almost half of a cavity gable and installed twin RSJs. A tiny crack appeared in the outer skin, but this followed the mortar line and just needed repointing.
If the engineer's calcs are right and your builder knows his stuff, movement should be next to zero.
Make notes and don't lose sleep. Worrying is a waste of energy.
All the best!
 
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