Cracks around concrete lintels

[BathDIY]

There are some cracks in the brickwork around 2 concrete lintels on the outside of my property.

What's the best way to deal with this (am assuming water will get in cracks and it will just get worse if nothing is done to seal them up).

Initially, I assumed that repointing was the way to go but I wonder if this might stop movement, and perhaps clear silicone might be preferable?

 

[Alastairreid]

Rake it out and point it back up with mortar the way it should be.
Cavity walls are designed to deal with water passing through the outer skin.

 

[BathDIY]

Perfect thanks for your help.

 

[KenGMac]

Sorry, but can I chuck in a point of caution??

Could be that the crack is related to a Thermal issue, when in cold weather the [larger] mass, the bricks shrink back away from the concrete lintel which is a smaller mass and has a different coefficient of expansion.

if you do rake out and re-point, this repair will be visible for a very, very long time, the mortar you repair the cracks with will be a different colour to the original mortar pointing.

Can I suggest you do nothing at present until the weather heats up a fair bit and see if indeed it is thermal related.

To prevent rain water ingress, suggest you consider using a clear mastic, carefully, use the thinnest possible nozzle size and place the nozzle into the crack to apply the mastic, do not smear the mastic all over the brick or concrete lintel faces.

Ken.

 

[BathDIY]

Hi Ken,

Thanks for your thoughts.

How much movement would there be if it is thermal expansion, or to put it another way what's the best way to check for this?

 

[KenGMac]

If it were me, I would simply wait, allow the sunshine to take effect. and allow the bricks and concrete lintel to become warmer tne wall will heat up and the cracks should / may close up?

As stated, any re-pointing will show up forever, as an aside, any conveyancing surveyor [if you decide to sell the property] will latch on to the repair and knowing such surveyors will scream Subsidence that will really spook a prospective purchaser??

Ken.

 

[BathDIY]

Hi Ken,

Been at the house a while and the cracks don't close up as far as I can tell.

Should I get it investigated?

 

[KenGMac]

Should I get it investigated?

No unless there are other serious cracks in the immediate vicinity, that is a waste of money.

As posted above, use clear silicon but carefully??

IMO a minor defect, do not draw attention to it, as an aside who else has told you there is a crack there??

Ken.

 

[BathDIY]

No unless there are other serious cracks in the immediate vicinity, that is a waste of money.

As posted above, use clear silicon but carefully??

IMO a minor defect, do not draw attention to it, as an aside who else has told you there is a crack there??

Ken.

Thanks, Ken will apply the silicone as suggested.

There are no other cracks I noticed similar on other houses on the road.

Not sure what you mean by "who else has told you there is a crack there" no one just noticed after we purchased property.

 

[KenGMac]

what you mean by "who else has told you there is a crack there"

My intention was to see if anyone else but you had noticed this crack ? A possible indication that this crack is [generally] not visible to Joe public??

Ken.

 

[TC2023]

Sorry to pull up an old topic. I have a very similar thing happening. Did the cracks every get worse, what happened? Thanks in advance