large crack in brickwork (merged threads)

springchicken

repeated by mistake!!

springchicken

We have a large crack in the brickwork of our lounge. It is near to a bay window , is about an inch wide and has been gradually leading down to the floor. It is in a period terraced property .
Does anybody know what repair work needs to be done and what it entails ?
Thanks in advance.
Spring.

plumb1_2

Hard to say what has caused the crack without an inspection,you could have subsedance and it might need underpinning.
If it has only just happened it would best to monitor it, you can stick a strip of glass across the crack, if there is further moment the glass will crack.

withabix

springchicken wrote:

We have a large crack in the brickwork of our lounge. It is near to a bay window , is about an inch wide and has been gradually leading down to the floor. It is in a period terraced property .
Does anybody know what repair work needs to be done and what it entails ?
Thanks in advance.
Spring.

Oops, thanked you by mistake.

If it really is an inch wide, you've got trouble.

My guess is that you've got subsidence in your bay window foundations (if it has any) - basically your bay window is probably falling off. I'm assuming by what you've written that the crack is wider at the top than the bottom?

You probably need your bay window or the whole front of your house underpinning.

I'm concerned that this is happening in a terrace though - have your neighbours got similar problems?

You might also have a burst water main or sewer causing the subsidence.

Have you got buildings insurance? If so, you're probably covered. Give your insurers a ring and ask them. Do it tomorrow!

How old is the property by the way?

Nile

springchicken wrote:

repeated by mistake!!

Hello springchicken

Don't worry, we all make mistakes.;)

I've merged both threads because you'd got replies to both but I can't remove the first post..........because then the whole thread would disappear.

Kind Regards

Nile

Volcano

Assuming the crack is in your external brickwork and not in the plaster of your lounge wall:
If the crack follows the mortar line of your brickwork, then the movement could stop of its own accord.
If the crack goes through 1 or more of your bricks (i.e. the bricks are actually cracked in half) then this is potentially very serious. You'll need to know why the crack appeared, esp. as it's a terraced property.

emilyt

springchicken wrote:

We have a large crack in the brickwork of our lounge. It is near to a bay window , is about an inch wide and has been gradually leading down to the floor. It is in a period terraced property .
Does anybody know what repair work needs to be done and what it entails ?
Thanks in advance.
Spring.

We have a similar problem at the moment.
Had to get in touch with our building society and then they got in touch with the insurance company.
A gentleman came to see the problem and take photo's last week.
Had a phone call today saying that someone was coming to do some tests. They have said they think it could be subsidence due to all the hot weather we had. Also if there are any large trees near to your house (THERE ARE NEAR TO OURS)then this can cause the subsidence by drying the bricks and mortar out.
Absolutely dreading the outcome. If it is subsidence we will have to pay the first £1000. Anything else we are not insured for. Sorry this isn't more positive.
Hope yours is a more simple solution.

withabix

emilyt wrote:

Also if there are any large trees near to your house (THERE ARE NEAR TO OURS)then this can cause the subsidence by drying the bricks and mortar out.
.

Errrr...not quite right there!!

Trees draw the moisture out of the subsoil under your foundations, causing the ground to shrink, resulting in subsidence.

Bricks and mortar drying out will have no effect. I think you misheard what he said!

When trees stop growing in the winter (and due to winter weather as well), the ground will absorb water again and may then heave, especially if it is a clay soil, compounding the damage done by the subsidence in the first place.

withabix

Volcano wrote:

If the crack follows the mortar line of your brickwork, then the movement could stop of its own accord.
If the crack goes through 1 or more of your bricks (i.e. the bricks are actually cracked in half) then this is potentially very serious.

That's not correct.

A crack will follow the route of least resistance. Mortar and the bond between the mortar and the bricks (that's what the frogs are for) can be as strong or stronger than the bricks themselves.

As bricks are only baked clay, they can suffer from frost action and deterioration through dampness, resulting in them becoming weaker.

The mortar will behave differently as it is comprised of sand, cement and often lime as well. Although mortar can deteriorate as well, it doesn't behave the same way as bricks do.

Thus a crack will either follow the mortar joints and beds or crack the bricks instead.

plumb1_2

withabix wrote:

Thus a crack will either follow the mortar joints and beds or crack the bricks instead.

Or both, in my experiance.

emilyt

withabix wrote:

Errrr...not quite right there!!

Trees draw the moisture out of the subsoil under your foundations, causing the ground to shrink, resulting in subsidence.

Bricks and mortar drying out will have no effect. I think you misheard what he said!

When trees stop growing in the winter (and due to winter weather as well), the ground will absorb water again and may then heave, especially if it is a clay soil, compounding the damage done by the subsidence in the first place.

Thanks for explaining that one to me WITHABIX. Maybe i did miss hear him. I was so sure that is what he said. I take it you are a proffessional when it comes to these matters. Anyway thankyou again for explaining it to me.