Crack found in internal wall

Racwil01

Hi. We live in a 3 storey townhouse built approx 16 years ago. We removed some tiles in our ensuite at the weekend to discover a large step like crack on the party wall. Now we are not sure whether to get in touch with the insurance company now and pay the excess or get a structual engineer out at the cost of £120 for his verbal oppion. Any advice please? 

dimbo61

Can you see any cracks on the outside brickwork or in the loft area.
The other side of the bathroom ?

eddddy

I wouldn't involve your insurance company unless / until you are pretty sure that you want to make a claim - i.e. you're pretty sure it is due to an insured risk, and it's economic to claim for it.

Simply phoning them to ask about it could mean they log it as a "loss incident" which would increase future premiums, even if you don't make a claim.

In your position, I'd get a structural engineer to look at it - and as it's a party wall ask the neighbours if the engineer can take a look from inside their house as well.

Racwil01

the otherside of that wall goes to next doors internal wall. No cracks on the outside wall that joins into the wall thats cracked. There is a crack in the loft which has been there for years and hasnt changed, thats a horizontal crack in the morter. Ive attached a pic.k

hb2

Oh, that kind of crack! I was expecting something nefarious