Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Engineer report

  • 20-12-2013 9:15pm
    #1
    The Buster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 218 ✭✭


    My sister is in process of buying a five year old house. She got engineer out to look at it and following came back in review

    "There are a number of cracks in the elevations. These are narrow and relate to shrinkage. There is evidence of crazing or mapping in the render on the elevation. This is generally as a result of the cement mix used in the render process. The external render is fully adhered to the wall."

    What exactly does this mean. She got report other day and engineer is out of country for Xmas. Would like to understand how serious it is ASAP . I presume it is something to be worried about. Is it worth getting another opinion


Comments

  • #2
    The Buster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 218 ✭✭The Buster


    Just read charter (I know cart before the horse!)and maybe this is not allowed. 1.5 Structural items . Issues relating to the specification of structural components is prohibited. Any queries in this regard need to be dealt with by an architect/engineer privately.
    If so I apologise and please close


  • #3
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    Exciting times! Buying a gaff is all stress! Especially at Xmas! Hope the following doesn't come across sharp as it's not intended
    If you don't trust the eng or can't wait to speak to him. Then get a 2nd opinion . best of luck doing that next week. The report on face value suggests the cracks are surface plaster only. It's your call. The only person suggesting its a structural matter is you. Merry Xmas


  • #4
    The Buster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 218 ✭✭The Buster


    BryanF wrote: »
    Exciting times! Buying a gaff is all stress! Especially at Xmas! Hope the following doesn't come across sharp as it's not intended
    If you don't trust the eng or can't wait to speak to him. Then get a 2nd opinion . best of luck doing that next week. The report on face value suggests the cracks are surface plaster only. It's your call. The only person suggesting its a structural matter is you. Merry Xmas

    Thanks Bryan. No sharpness taken at all! A crack strikes me as been structural so you have helped put minds at ease:-) never occurred that it could be plaster

    She can talk to the engineer after Xmas as all on a go slow until holiday out of way. As you say stress is running high at the moment and for the last few hours all I have been hearing is nightmares of the house falling down the week after she moves in!

    Out of interest is this normal (ie shrinkage) in a newish house


  • #5
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    The Buster wrote: »
    "cracks.. are narrow and relate to shrinkage. crazing/ mapping in the render....This is generally as a result of the cement mix used in the render process. The external render is fully adhered to the wall."

    What exactly does this mean.

    Ask the engineer what % of plaster is effected and what would he suggest you do.
    Pick this up after Xmas with eng, From your quoted text, IMO it's not a game changer


  • #6
    Safehands
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,360 ✭✭✭Safehands


    The Buster wrote: »
    My sister is in process of buying a five year old house. She got engineer out to look at it and following came back in review

    "There are a number of cracks in the elevations. These are narrow and relate to shrinkage. There is evidence of crazing or mapping in the render on the elevation. This is generally as a result of the cement mix used in the render process. The external render is fully adhered to the wall."

    What exactly does this mean. She got report other day and engineer is out of country for Xmas. Would like to understand how serious it is ASAP . I presume it is something to be worried about. Is it worth getting another opinion

    A report like that generally means that the render (plaster) is well stuck to the wall, which is important. There are shrinkage cracks present, but these most likely occurred just after the render was applied, due to wind or sun drying it out too quickly. Usually the worst case scenario is that the walls may need to be re-plastered at some stage. She may get away with coating it with a paint which can cope with very slight movement. As always though, an engineer should be consulted prior to finalising any decision.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    newbie2013
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 405 ✭✭newbie2013


    The Buster wrote: »

    Out of interest is this normal (ie shrinkage) in a newish house

    I have worked in construction for 20 years and ive yet to come across one house without cracks. Every house cracks, some more so than others. Even my own home has cracks and one that runs right down the wall that is a hairline crack. It had me worried so i took a jack hammer to a part of it and turns out its just the plaster that cracked. I have other cracks that are under the window cill that are cracks in the block but this is normal in block built houses.

    Is it possible you can get pics of these cracks.



    Just curious as to what the process is if your cracks turned out to be structural. Seeing as an engineer cant give a 100% guarantee that your cracks aren't structural, what would happen if you bought the house and they turned out to be your worst nightmare and they where structural cracks. Is it just a matter of someones insurance paying out to get fixed or paying for the damage yourself.


  • #8
    Safehands
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,360 ✭✭✭Safehands


    newbie2013 wrote: »
    I have worked in construction for 20 years and ive yet to come across one house without cracks. Every house cracks, some more so than others. Even my own home has cracks and one that runs right down the wall that is a hairline crack. It had me worried so i took a jack hammer to a part of it and turns out its just the plaster that cracked. I have other cracks that are under the window cill that are cracks in the block but this is normal in block built houses.
    The only problem with cracks in any concrete structure is the freeze thaw cycle. When water freezes it expands and that can make a crack bigger. That is why engineers will always try to eliminate them if they can.
    newbie2013 wrote: »
    Just curious as to what the process is if your cracks turned out to be structural. Seeing as an engineer cant give a 100% guarantee that your cracks aren't structural, what would happen if you bought the house and they turned out to be your worst nightmare and they where structural cracks. Is it just a matter of someones insurance paying out to get fixed or paying for the damage yourself.
    An engineer will assess the crack and determine what caused it. He will make a recommendation based on his findings. Structural cracks can be fixed, so they are not always your worst nightmare. Talk to Mr. Engineer


Advertisement