Stair cracks in brick

[MICH43L]

Hi all,

Have knocked off all the plaster in the first floor back bedroom of my Victorian semi, to reveal a couple of runs of stair cracks where the bricks have shifted. Obviously these could have been there for decades, so I'm not sure it's anything to worry about.

As to ground conditions, the cellar is quite damp at the back of the house, and our smallish back garden is hemmed in by walls (retaining wall at the back, so not much natural drainage). Garden gets soggy/spongey in the rain.

I thought cracking walls indicated ground that was too dry and was associated with tree roots? My problem seems to be that, despite the large sycamore tree 8-10m from the back of the house, the garden gets too wet.

I was thinking of digging drainage pipes into the garden anyway, but I don't want to make things worse.

Any ideas?

 

[^woody^]

I thought cracking walls indicated ground that was too dry and was associated with tree roots?

No, there are several other more likely reasons.

 

[mfarrow]

I think what woody means is there could be factors such as roof spread at work... or movement caused by building work... or just plain old settlement from when the house was built.