worried about horizontal cracks

kingstreet

propertyman wrote: »

Repairing the pebble dash is simply expensive, local repairs will make it look like a battenburg cake.

You do need to establish the construction, and consider why it was pebbledashed, was it a cosmetic matter, or is there an underlying problem with the stone or render such as water penetration.

Have a local chartered building surveyor look at it, this is not a structural engineer issue in the first instance.

I agree. Jumping straight to a structural engineer's report may not save you money in this case. If there's no sign of structural issues inside, it may be an issue with the render/pebbledash and what's underneath it.

As I asked earlier, are other properties nearby visibly built of brick under a tiled roof, or is it possible they are made of (eg) concrete?

poppysarah

huwy123 wrote: »

Thanks once again. I really appreciate your input.

I thought the pebble dashing would have been done when it was built but I take it you think it was done more recently?

You need to establish when it was done ... I thought it looked new but the link doesn't work now on your first post.

huwy123

Here are the pics again (on a different site now)...

ess0two

Render looks like its been on since the house was built,i'd be more worried about cracks of vertical nature.
Either way it'll have to come off and be re-done,as posted previously i reckon it frost damage,moisture has got in behind and frost has blown the render.

You can always repaint the render anyway to avoid a mismatch.

huwy123

oh ok - how much do you think that'll cost for a 4 bed detached?

I think the windows have been replaced recently so I'm wondering if that might have let moisture in.

ess0two

huwy123 wrote: »

oh ok - how much do you think that'll cost for a 4 bed detached?

I think the windows have been replaced recently so I'm wondering if that might have let moisture in.

TBH your best getting few quotes,it'll probably need some sort of scaffold access.You only need to repair affect areas,come next summer you can then paint it yourself.

huwy123

I was hoping I could get away with filling it with some sort of flexible filler and then spray it with a water proof paint (and save myself a bill of several £1000!)

ess0two

huwy123 wrote: »

Here are the pics again (on a different site now)...
http://tinypic.com/r/28bxrbr/7
http://tinypic.com/r/2qbx4rn/7
http://tinypic.com/r/10i6s0z/7
http://tinypic.com/r/2ik6qsz/7

The first pic,top right of house there has been some sort of fill repair to a crack,you may get away with filling the other cracks?

Providing they dont spring open in future,probably just paint over the whole render.

propertyman

huwy123 wrote: »

I was hoping I could get away with filling it with some sort of flexible filler and then spray it with a water proof paint (and save myself a bill of several £1000!)

Well no you would use flexible mortar, once you establish what the problem is, otherwise it will just re occur. You can also use a micro porous waterproofing treatment that sprays on. You also need to remove any adjacent loose areas.

As long as you dont have water penetration, why not experiment on the most exposed elevation. Once it looks like battenbourg and survives a winter then perhaps painting it is the best answer for a good finish.