Crack in wall

[Marylou47a]

Hello,

It’s one of these again. I have a crack in an external wall which I think has been there for ages. Don’t think it’s changed and I never thought much about it. We are looking at replacing the patio doors underneath and so I figured I should actually think about it. The house is 1900 and this is at the back, crack coming from the corner of back bedroom window above the kitchen doors. There’s another hairline one below.

I want to know if I need to get a structural engineer to look at it or not. I have no idea what is or isn’t concerning or what to do about these things so pls be nice

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[jj4091]

Do you mean a short crack in the joint one course up above the new bricks and the crack from the window. If so then I would think it is nothing to worry about. It probably had a catnic lintel or similar fitted when the doors were done and and has just settled a little. Perhaps the opening was widened. Sealing it won't do any harm though. Ask the window fitters to check there is a lintel and cavity tray and if they could squirt some clear silicon in while they are there. Tea and biscuits work wonders.

 

[Marylou47a]

Yes the stepped one coming off the corner of the window and then another stepped one starting above the new bricks.

The one coming off the corner of the window has a corresponding hairline crack internally, is that a worry?

I did wonder if it might be related to the door. The whole of that back wall looks a right mess and needs repointing as well as the door replaced.

Like I said, as I have no idea about cracks etc it’s hard to know when to worry. We have plenty of other hairline cracks internally that I just ignore as well as I kinda figure a 120 year old house is going to be a bit wonky? But you can go down real rabbit holes on the internet when you google cracks.

When we get the doors replaced, if there isn’t a lintel do we need to get them to put one on? And is it just a builder/fitter I need for the doors or do we need an engineer for that too?

Sorry I am totally useless at all things like this but I am trying to learn! Thank you for your help!

 

[jj4091]

Obviously no one can advise properly from the one pic. you have posted, but it doesn't sound like it is a major problem. Your internal cracks just sound like they need filling when you next decorate.
There is need no need to worry about them at this stage they are just part of the general maintenance of an old house.
But get several (at least 3 ) estimates for your new door and ask each suppliers surveyor their opinion when they come to give you an estmate and are on site.
In my opinion you should have a lintel fitted if there is not one there, but I would be fairly sure there will be.
If you are getting the back repointed that will sort all the cracking problems externally.

 

[Marylou47a]

Yes I will get a few quotes and see what they think but with it being above the door it does make more sense to me now!

Good opportunity for me to just sort the whole of the back wall out. And I guess if the crack comes back then I can worry about it!

Thanks so much for the advice

 

[ree]

OP,
Mirror cracks can be a cause for further inquiry - why not post a pic of the internal mirror crack.
You have a cavity wall, and a lintel above the door - the cracks could have occured when the lintel was installed?

 

[Marylou47a]

This is the internal crack. I don’t think it is new either. Like I said, we have cracks dotted about the place but not biggies so I tell to just decorate over them.

The door installation precedes us but we have had the PVC bedroom window replaced by Anglian a few years ago. Will be getting the door replaced as it’s getting pretty rotten so hopefully can get opinions from the potential fitters on it all.

Thanks for your help!

 

[ree]

OP,
Thanks for the prompt pic. It shows a mirror crack on the inner leaf, and a split in what appears to be a window board horn.
1. Why not open up the whole length of the crack to reveal the brickwork?
2. Is there any sign of disturbance on the RH window reveal?
3. As it drops does the crack go down behind a skirting board?
4. Is there a gap above or below the skirting?
I doubt that there's anything serious going on but FWIW I like to check the details.

 

[Koolpc]

I wouldn't be worried by that. It's normal for crack to appear around windows in older properties. I would just take out the cracks and fill and forget....

I bet it's the result of the window being taken out and replaced......

 

[^woody^]

Looks like a lintel has been replaced. Does the crack pre-date that work?