Crack in wall next to bay after window fitting

alexhigson

Hi all,

Need a bit of advice about a crack that appeared in the wall next to our bay window during fitting of uPVC sash windows. We had the windows fitted yesterday and spent the evening admiring them and clearing up. However, on returning home this evening I spotted a crack in the wall next to the bay. On closer inspection, I realised it was a crack about 5mm wide (at its widest) and roughly 60cm long. The fitters must have filled it with filler but did not mention it to us before they left. Should we be as panicked about this as I feel right now? I'd be very grateful for any advice or opinions!

Thanks,

Alex

Crinkmeister

Can you post a pic of the wall showing the crack? I assume your house must be relatively old if it has sash windows. Are the walls solid?

flashg67

Don't want to panic you, but I saw a rogue traders type programme where this had happened and it turned out there should have been some kind of support in the bay that had either been removed, or was required as the upvc modern windows weren't designed to hold the weight above. Personally I'd be getting them back in!

alexhigson

Hi Crinkmeister,

Unfortunately I'm new to the forum so I'm not allowed to post photos or links.

The crack is to the right of the bay window. It is vertical, reaching from about 30 cm from the ceiling down to roughly the middle of the sash. The building is Victorian and the walls are plaster with lining paper under the paintwork.

Many thanks for your help,

Alex

alexhigson

Hi Flashg67,

I'll be giving them a call on Monday whatever happens! I think I'd be less concerned if they had pointed out what had happened and discussed it with me, but the fact that they covered it up and left without mentioning it makes me feel pretty ill at ease!

MisterBaxter

Could be something as simple as old plaster cracking due to the movement of the old windows having being removed. Try tapping the plaster around the crack to see if sounds hollow. There will be some movement when ripping the old windows out and when taking a bay out there will be some flex around the structure even if it was properly propped.

The thing 'flashg67' was referring to is a baypole and it provides the structural support between the structure above the bay and the structure below the bay; if this is missing then the structural integrity has gone but I would expect to see any cracks coming as a result of that being right through the brickwork or render on the outside.

Certainly worth getting them back in and getting their explanation to see if sounds feasible. It would have been nice if they had told you, an ideally they should have warned you about potential damage to old plaster before they started.

vansboy

As mentioned, the new frame may not offer similar support, as original installation. Have you got less glass panels than before, maybe going for a different appearance with a 'bigger' picture window style? This would indicate possibly there is less support.

Also did they use any internal acro props like this
http://kmlwindowinstallations.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/kevs-iphone-862.jpg

VB

pickledonionspaceraider

I have heard of this kind of thing with bay windows before and recently found this review

It seems that a window comp had replaced a downstairs bay window, but didn’t support it properly whilst they did the work. The entire bay of the bedroom above cracked away from the outside wall of the house because they hadn’t put in proper supports.

see for yourself

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS-mgha1d6A&feature=youtu.be