Possible subsidence?

[katheh]

I've just noticed these cracks appear in the back outside wall of my house. One starts from the the top corner of the patio door, goes diagonally up 3 bricks and then horizontal for the width of the door and diagonally down to the other corner. A similar one starts from the corner of the kitchen window but doesn't go all the way across. Do you think it could be subsidence? Should I contact insurance company? Bit worried about getting bigger premiums for no reason if I do contact them.

House about 10 years old and on clay soil.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Kath


http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x461/kathehood/P1010637.jpg
http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x461/kathehood/P1010638.jpg
http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x461/kathehood/P1010639.jpg

 

[^woody^]

It seems like you've got some common movement on the lintel, and this seems likely to be differential movement of those two different types of brick. Perhaps some poor workmanship when built too

Not typical signs of subsidence

 

[big-all]

how old is the property
when did you insure it
what did your decliration say in the area where you answered about subsidance ??

 

[hotrod]

In the first photo it *appears* that the lintel has no bearing and the bottom course of RHS bwk has visibly dropped by 2-3mm which has caused the mortar to fail diagonally.

 

[katheh]

Thanks for your replies. Reassuringly it sounds like it's not subsidence. Phew!

how old is the property
when did you insure it
what did your decliration say in the area where you answered about subsidance ??

Property is about 10 years old. I've lived here 4 years. Always been insured. About 2 years with current insurance. Said no sign of subsidence because there wasn't any when I got the policy.

In the first photo it *appears* that the lintel has no bearing and the bottom course of RHS bwk has visibly dropped by 2-3mm which has caused the mortar to fail diagonally.

Apologies for my ignorance. Does no bearing mean that, in simple terms, the lintel doesn't overlap enough with the bricks at the edge of the window?

Thanks again
Kath

 

[richjamesw]

is the patio door and window original to the build, check other houses along the street.

 

[hotrod]

Does no bearing mean that, in simple terms, the lintel doesn't overlap enough with the bricks at the edge of the window?

Basically yes. It looks like the lintel doesn't extend onto the brickwork at all - it's as though as it's just sitting on top of the window frame........probably just an optical illusion, no builder would install it like that unless he had a horse.......