Significant vertical cracking

kirtay

Hi All,

We are in process of buying our first house and almost there to exchange in couple of weeks. We went to Home Buyer Survey and it came up with the criticl warning of "Significant vertical cracking".

The whole comment reads:
There is significant vertical cracking to the brickwork along the left-hand end of the front elevation at the point where the wall is set back to adjoin the neighbouring house. This is most likely to be due to some thermal movement. However, due to the extensive nature of the cracking, we strongly recommend you instruct a structural engineer to carry out a further investigation into its cause as a precautionary measure.

Can anyone share their experience with similar situation? My problem is, I have already spent £400 for home buyer and SE survey will cost another £400 to check the specific wall. If it's not worth going through the path, I can save that money for similar home buyer survey for another house!

Many thanks in advance.

AdrianC

A picture's worth a thousand words...

A structural engineer's going to tell you one of two things.
1. It's probably not a problem.
2. It could well be a problem.


If it's 1, then trying to save yourself £400 and dropping out is going to cost you a lot more than £400.
If it's 2, then trying to save yourself £400 and going ahead is going to cost you a lot more than £400.

kirtay

Thanks AdrianC for quick reply.

One thing is sure I am not going ahead without SE but what is your opinion/experience about such cracks.

Sorry can't provide photos as its restricted for new users

Slithery

Just post the links to your pictures but remove the http:// from the beginning.

kirtay

Please check some images below:
my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZktgP7Ztwm3DLCjzfkwR8MUxLu3wQOW96my
my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZ8tgP7Z0Ju2syRV5XLJObl6lLIUr8vsRI2y
my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZztgP7ZxcDT7cY1Hdz3wlYLUDBhtJ0C4tQy

Slithery

http://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZktgP7Ztwm3DLCjzfkwR8MUxLu3wQOW96my


http://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZ8tgP7Z0Ju2syRV5XLJObl6lLIUr8vsRI2y


http://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZztgP7ZxcDT7cY1Hdz3wlYLUDBhtJ0C4tQy

AdrianC

AdrianC

It's certainly not looking too clever. Is this an extension?

Hillwalker11

Think I would give this house a miss.The cracking is substantial and zig zag on an outside wall.We had subsidence over 20 years ago and had external cracking, not as significant as your photos. We ended up being underpinned.I always remember the surveyor stating if the cracking is on an external wall there is a definite movement.Inside cracking is not seen as so much of an issue. Good luck with whatever you decide. A surveyor would monitor the cracks over a certain amount of time by putting small screws either side of the cracks.They would then measure over time how much movement there was and then decide on a course of action. It is a lengthy process.

kirtay

This is front wall joining neighbor wall

jimbog

Run.

Your £400 was money very well spent!