Wall cracks - structural engineer unsure?!

Marshall86

I am currently looking at buying a house. I noticed a couple of cracks and was told by the estate agent that a survey had been done in the past (by the vendor, I believe).

Today the estate agent got back to me regarding the survey and told me that the structural engineer wasn't sure about the seriousness of the cracks (?!?!). She said the vendor didn't want to pay for further investigation and instead dropped the price.

Now.... I thought a structural engineer would determine the seriousness of a crack in the wall - so if they don't know, who am I to turn to? Do I simply need to hire a different structural engineer or is there a different person I should be contacting?

Any advice would be muchly appreciated.

Loopyloopz

Sounds like that a previous buyer had the survey done and then maybe pulled out as a result of the survey. The vendors have then dropped their price. Definitely get your own survey done. Anything done by a previous potential buyer won’t necessarily have been shared with the vendors. Best to get the cracks checked!

jonnygee2

structural engineer wasn't sure about the seriousness of the cracks (?!?!).

I'd be asking for a copy of this mystical survey.

Normally a structural engineer would give the likely cause and severity of the cracks and then offer to monitor them over time to determine if they are still a problem. They would definitely give more details than 'I'm not sure'.

Marshall86

So it is definitely a structural engineer who can shed light on the situation? The estate agent suggested googling for someone who specialises in cracks

SG27

Marshall86 wrote: »

....The estate agent suggested googling for someone who specialises in cracks

That would be a structural engineer then :rotfl:

AnotherJoe

I suggest googling for another house.

martin1959

SG27 wrote: »

That would be a structural engineer then :rotfl:

Or a gynaecologist

jimbog

Marshall86 wrote: »

the estate agent ..... told me

That's the bit I would be worried about

G_M

Ignore everything the estate agent tells you.


Do your own investigations, using your own professionals.

Tom99

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]When a claim for subsidence is may after an initial look there is usually a fairly extended period where the property is monitored for further movement.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Whilst a structural engineer may have a very good idea about what has caused the cracks they cannot tell what the underground conditions are like without further investigations.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]That can involve a site investigation report including boreholes, drainage report, and maybe a arboricultural report if trees maybe the problem.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The structural engineer can then advise on an appropriate repair.[/FONT]

Doozergirl

Marshall86 wrote: »

So it is definitely a structural engineer who can shed light on the situation? The estate agent suggested googling for someone who specialises in cracks

Christ on a bike :rotfl:

Regardless of whether your EA was born yesterday, you do need to take your own advice and not that of a previous buyer's. They clearly didn't have a structural engineer's report anyway. They must have had the survey and gotten cold feet before doing the full research, as many people do.

Don't take anything this particular EA says as being backed by even the most basic of knowledge about property.