External cracks - survey complete, should we get second opinion?

robocode

Hi, we are about to close on a house we love. It is a timberframe house, 10 years old, and the external walls are constructed of block outer leaf and timber frame
internal leaf and rendered externally with rough dash plaster finish. We had a strucutural engineer complete a survey and he spotted some cracks on the external walls. His stated opinion was

These could be partly structural or could be cracks on the rendering.
Further investigation is required to determine if they are structural or rendering cracks.

Now, on the phone he basically said he wouldn't bother getting any other survey done, that he would have to be too invasive with the cracks and he's confident they are just in the render. So I assume most surveys use the quoted language to cover themselves.

The cracks are shown






The larger crack he said is a settlement crack because the conservatory and rear of kitchen were constructed after main section of dwelling. It is a blockwork extension.

The gable end with the noticeable cracks is SW facing, and is basically the first wall the atlantic meets a few hundred metres in from the sea so gets a dose of wind and rain.

Is there another survey I should consider, or is this the most assurance I can get?

BryanF

OP you've come on the internet instead of getting a second opinion, so I'll give you the stock answer

'We can't give structural advice'

gctest50

robocode wrote: »

......The larger crack he said is a settlement crack because the ......

A crack very near a water drain thingy can be a bad sign



Get an opinion from someone suitably qualified ( in real-life)

robocode

It's not that I'm asking for structural advice. We have had a qualified engineer assess it. My question is, is there any point getting someone else to assess it, or will another report most likely say the same thing, i.e. a definitive answer could not be provided without getting into the wall/ground?

Calahonda52

robocode wrote: »

It's not that I'm asking for structural advice. We have had a qualified engineer assess it. My question is, is there any point getting someone else to assess it, or will another report most likely say the same thing, i.e. a definitive answer could not be provided without getting into the wall/ground?

Spot On. and wont happen pre purchase

robocode

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Spot On. and wont happen pre purchase

That's what I was thinking. The seller isn't exactly going to let me send a crew of lads in chipping away at the render to see how deep the cracks go.

Gumbo

robocode wrote: »

It's not that I'm asking for structural advice. We have had a qualified engineer assess it. My question is, is there any point getting someone else to assess it, or will another report most likely say the same thing, i.e. a definitive answer could not be provided without getting into the wall/ground?

You cannot carry out invasive or opening up works until after you buy, so another report will state the same thing.