Crack in render between detached houses

[Bear83]

Hi, can someone help me please. We are looking to purchase a semi detached property, in the main bedroom there is a small damp patch on the corner of the wall (interior adjoining wall to next door) and both top and bottom front windows have broken down. Looking from outside right where you would expect the two properties to join there is a down pipe and behind the down pipe there is a crack in the render running from roof to floor which is a good 3mm wide, its in a perfect straight line, should be worried about this and would this be the cause of the damp. Also doesn't help all vents have been blocked up but the crack worries me more, any advice gratefully welcome don't want to buy a house and then find out it requires major work.

Many thanks

 

[Blagard]

Post a picture

You say semi-detached, but were both houses built at the same time?

It could be a construction joint or re-rendering at different times with stop beads back to back. So a picture will help a lot!

 

[Bear83]

Thanks fir the advice.
Cant get a pic as dark and we want to make a offer tomorrow, the houses are both built at the same time?

 

[Blagard]

Most semi's are built in pairs at the same time but an end of terrace semi could be an add on. I didn't want to assume in the absence of a photo.

 

[Bear83]

Ah! I see, no they are not the end of the row and they were buit together, should i be concerned and do you think this could be the cause of the damp inside as the damp is right where the crack would be, if you see what i mean

 

[Blagard]

Lets see a photo first. It may not be a crack but an open joint in the render as I indicated before. That could be a problem but easier to resolve than a crack.

 

[Bear83]

These are the photos in the crack in the wall

 

[Bear83]

Cracks

Untitled

• Bear83
• 11 Jan 2014
• 1

Untitled

• Bear83
• 11 Jan 2014
• 1

 

[Blagard]

That "crack" should not be a problem. Ideally it should be closed off with a mastic sealant. It is a deliberate break in the render between the two houses

The rainwater pipes look to be cast iron and you need to see if they are rotting at the back especially at the joints. Leaks from old rotting cast iron rainwater pipes are a common source of damp in a building. It is worth checking the guttering if that is also cast iron

 

[Bear83]

Thank you so much for your help, we have made an offer on the house fingers crossed