Cracking, swollen render - please advise

Doozergirl

Speaking as someone who doesn't generally worry about these things, I am worried. I agree with the builders that the exterior render is not in great condition and hasn't been well applied. It shows at stress points for either badly applied/mixed render or movement.

Cracking plaster internally which occurs over a short period of time, dislodges skirting to and cracks architrave across like that screams movement. How can bad plastering break architrave?

We don't have the previous condition of the property to refer to for a history. Rendering a property is a surefire way for a bad developer to cover a multitude of sins. If this property was bought to develop and sell and the overall job is not fantastic then I would really have concerns over whether the 'historic' movement was in fact current and the new render/plaster temporarily hid it.

Before you do anything, I would have a structural engineer visit the property. If they think there is not a problem then it will cost you an hour of their time and you can have your rendering done knowing that further movement is not going to ruin it.

Otherwise, you potentially spend £000s fixing something that was a symptom, not a cause.

Radsteral

if it was mine I would reveal the brick myself before inviting any more ''specialists'' who would just come close to it and not touch it .. that has to be removed anyway..so it makes it easy for all..... I think if I click too many times to that picture with cracks it will fall off )) doesn't need a hammer