Cracks in the wall

[nevin77]

I am looking at buying a post war end of terrace ex council house. It is pebble dashed on the outside.

Inside, there are a view visable and to me, disturbing cracks. The main one is downstairs, in the lounge in the front facing wall that joins to the other terrace next door. Runs from ceiling to floor.

2nd of concern to me is in the upstairs bedroom. It runs the whole length of the ceiling (middle of house) from front aspect to back aspect.

Should i be concerned?

Many thanks

Nevin77

 

[^woody^]

They seem common and normal for age to me.

There are lots of posts on cracks and where, how, why and when they would be a concern.

 

[Static]

How big are the cracks (width wise)? Are there any cracks around the windows externally?

 

[nevin77]

Internal and external. External probably 1/2 inch, internal smaller. They are the original metal window frames from the 30s

 

[Static]

Is it a steel framed building?? (Check the rafters in the loft arent steel Z or [ sections)

 

[nevin77]

its not.

 

[Static]

Ok, well next is to find out if they are recent, what caused/causing them and if they are ongoing..
Maybe thing about getting a survey/structural engineer to give the place a survey

 

[Nige F]

rotting wall ties expanding and forcing the horizontal pointing apart Vertical cracks , Nige

 

[Static]

Wall tie failure is typically horizontal external cracks every 2nd/3rd course.. he said hes got a large vertical crack, and one in the ceiling going horizontal.

The ceiling one is possibly ceiling joist movement or roof sag.. check purlins and how level/secure the ceiling joists are.. the other one at the front may just be expansion, but check how old it is (look at painting/decoration around the crack and see how many layers)

 

[joe-90]

There's no point in employing a structural engineer as he'll have to monitor the property for 12 months to check for movement.

Wall tie failure is out of the question.

Is there a drain in the vicinity that may have a crack and allow the foundations to sink? That is the usual problem. Or are there any big trees nearby?