House Internal/external wall cracks - pictures included

jon1981

Hi,

We bought a house about 14 months ago, an old house built in the 1950s in Artane. There was a crack in the external wall, the survey didn't reveal anything alarming and he advice was to watch the crack over time to ensure it didn't increase, and it hasn't.

However, internally I have noticed some cracks appearing in the living room and upstairs bedroom, the location of the crack internally is more or less in the vicinity of the external crack. I'm pretty sure these cracks have only appeared in the last month or so as I haven't noticed them and they are pretty visible now.

What would be the course of action here? I've attached pictures to help illustrate what i've described. I should probably also add that this is a terraced house too.

thanks
J

Calahonda52

Is there any evidence that the room was painted before it was sold.
What exactly did the survey report say?
What aspect is the front wall?
Does it get much driving rain?

What sort of heating is is the house and do you think that last owner heated it?

Is the internal wall skimmed concrete block?

This link is just an idea

http://www.avongard.co.uk

When I was younger we stuck pieces of very thin glass across the cracks and waited.
This is 2015 so the technology has moved on.

jon1981

survey said this

On the front elevation, cracking extends from the left hand corner of the first floor, right hand side bedroom window to the junction with the ground floor brick work. Less noticeable cracking, matching the location of the crack externally, was noted internally. Informal monitoring of the cracking is recommended and should any further movement occur, robust structural repairs undertaken. Similar cracking was noted to extend beyond the top, left hand corner of the window to eaves level. The cracking appears well established, should be informally monitored and is most likely caused by movement in the roof. Improvement works to stiffen the roof structure should include the installation of bracing across the rafters and joists in and the addition of more collars.

The house was renovated 3 years before we bought it ,which included plastering and painting of all internal walls in the house.

Aspect? The front wall faces north, I think that's what you're asking right?
Driving rain? How would I assess that?

I'm not sure if the internal wall is skimmed concrete, the survey said this

Renovation of the property did not include the installation of internal wall insulation (warm board) at the front and rear of the property although the extension walls have been dry-lined (the quality of any insulation behind or attached to the plasterboard could not be confirmed). To reduce heat losses the installation of warm board should be considered.

Based on the age of the property it is most likely of solid masonry construction.

What a structural survey be the way to go at this point?

Calahonda52

The survey is pretty blunt about inner and outer cracks so youbbiught with eyes open.

No need for additional survey, its all there.

The prevailing wind in Ireland is South west so u shouldn't have an issue with driving rain but I would seal the ouside crack with a rigid filler, not silicone as u want to see if it is still moving.
If it continues to mive then you need professional advice

jon1981

Oh yeah we were completely aware through the report of the crack externally, internally it was not noticeable at all, you'd have to look extremely close.

I think I'll watch it for a few weeks and see of the interior crack gets worse. It could just be expansion due to the hot summer we had last year.

I've Noticed some neighbours on the road have patches of new render on their wall, I might talk to them as they could have had a similar issue.

Deano7

You need to get tell tale monitors to assess the damage. If it's moving fast enough for the naked eye to notice, I wouldn't be sleep in the house!!! Ring a Loss Assessor.

Dardania

As Calahonda52 is alluding to, maybe the reason the internal crack is becoming more apparent is because of internal heating being on.

It's been quite cold lately, everyone has there heating on, the inside of the house dries out - so a small crack can, with the shrinkage of plaster, become bigger. I notice it in my house - the woodwork shrinks too...

BryanF

Calahonda52 wrote: »

The survey is pretty blunt about inner and outer cracks so youbbiught with eyes open.

No need for additional survey, its all there.

The prevailing wind in Ireland is South west so u shouldn't have an issue with driving rain but I would seal the ouside crack with a rigid filler, not silicone as u want to see if it is still moving.
If it continues to mive then you need professional advice

V

Deano7 wrote: »

You need to get tell tale monitors to assess the damage. If it's moving fast enough for the naked eye to notice, I wouldn't be sleep in the house!!! Ring a Loss Assessor.

this is why we don't offer structural advice