Roof spread or something else?

[Deek44]

Hi all

I purchased a 2 bed Victorian terrace last year and I am just getting around to decorating the upstairs. Having stripped through what seemed about 10 layers on wallpaper I have uncovered this very large vertical crack in the corner of the room. The bathroom is adjoining and there are some hair line cracks above the doorway. There also appears to have had some sort of movement around the doorframe itself. I of course will be getting the advice of a structural engineer but in the mean time does anyone have any advice? I have attached some photos which I hope are helpful.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Was the wall paper cracked?

Andy

 

[Deek44]

Hi Andy. There was a visible rippling of the wallpaper where the crack is.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Ok, I was hoping you would say that the paper was fine. You might need Noseall or Woody to comment on this.

Andy

 

[^woody^]

Looks like normal and common cracking for a house over 100 years old.

Vertical internal cracking, especially in corners and by doors, whilst appearing bad is rarely an indicator of significant structural movement.

I'd spend your money on filler not engineers.

 

[Deek44]

Hi Woody. Thanks for that. I forgot to mention that in the same corner of the room where the vertical crack is there is slight bowing of the ceiling. You may be able to see it in one of the photos I posted. Could this be linked in any way?

 

[^woody^]

Again, old ceilings bow. Did the previous people keep all their old teasmaids, yogurt makers and coffee machines up there for instance?

A bowing ceiling and that crack are not indicators of roof spread or even a mutual cause.

If I saw those things on a survey I would not be too bothered. Like ourselves, things happen with age, but these are rarely terminal - just how it is. We can all plod on for years to come.

 

[Deek44]

Thanks for taking the time to reply again, that's helped to ease the worry. This room is to become my son's nursery so I suppose I am being overly cautious