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External wall crack

13

Comments

  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Betty1900 wrote: »
    Do you think quilified builder = building survey in terms of knowledge?
    The builder will almost certainly have taken a much more detailed look, and applied a lot more practical experience to it.

    What level of survey did you get?
  • Betty1900
    Betty1900 Posts: 15 Forumite
    ... and that's the problem, we did not have a survey as we were told a well knowlagable builder will be able to pick everything up and hthe builder also said that they do this type of surveys but they are not qualified building surveyers. And Im now double guessing everything.
  • bertiewhite
    bertiewhite Posts: 1,904 Forumite
    1,000 Posts
    I always remember Kevin McCloud of Grand Designs saying "you only need to start worrying about a crack when you can get your fingers into it"
  • Betty1900
    Betty1900 Posts: 15 Forumite
    Haha .... That is exactly what my husband says. So there must be something to that.
  • stuart45
    stuart45 Posts: 4,976 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Betty1900 wrote: »
    Do you think quilified builder = building survey in terms of knowledge?
    Depends on the builder. I know a few really experienced ones who probably couldn't diagnose foundation problems, but a lot of surveyors would tell you to get an SE.
    I have known a few SE's who are not really that practical and lacking in site experience as well.
  • stuart45
    stuart45 Posts: 4,976 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Betty1900 wrote: »
    Haha .... That is exactly what my husband says. So there must be something to that.


    There is a BRE chart giving the issues and problems in relation to the width of the crack.

    An SE did say to me once though that really large cracks started off as small ones.

    A general rule of thumb is that small cracks that are the same width all the way up are more likely to be thermal/shrinkage cracks as foundation problems often get wider at either the top or bottom, depending on the movement.
    I'm not really an expert, as a bricklayer it's my job to create the problems rather than solve them.
  • stuart45
    stuart45 Posts: 4,976 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    https://www.bre.co.uk/page.jsp?id=3356
    It's on this link.
  • Betty1900
    Betty1900 Posts: 15 Forumite
    Thank you, appreciate all the answers, will check out the link.
  • Betty1900
    Betty1900 Posts: 15 Forumite
    ... very useful link...
    :)
  • AnotherJoe
    AnotherJoe Posts: 19,622 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Betty1900 wrote: »
    Do you think qualified builder = building survey in terms of knowledge?


    Is in the builders interest to tell you there's something wrong so you can spend money fixing it.

    So if a builder says no problem, I'd be happy. Are you related to the other person who has had both builder and a surveyor tell her the cracks in new plaster are superficial and is still fretting?
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