Possible subsidence. How concerned should I be?

Tiglet2

tui85 said:

tui85 said:

KJIWTIStructE said:

This extension looks quite poor. The crack is located where the wall is weak due to the window, the small panel below the cill takes very little load. Hopefully the corner has a post where the windows meet, who on earth puts windows around a corner looking into a neighbor's garden? Looks like they came by some spare double glazing and cobbled together a dodgy extension, sorry but it is bad...
1. The sliding doors upstairs indicate the roof is used in some way. There is no barrier so this is possibly illegal, plus the roof probably isn't designed for the imposed loading that walking on it would apply, not saying it will fail but the finished might and then it will leak.
2. Whole thing looks damp.
3. Does it have planning and building regs?
I would not buy it but if you really like the house get a full structural survey of the whole thing and try to get someone with a damp meter also.

Thank you for your message. 

1. There is no post in the corner where the windows meet. It's all window....

2. Our builder suggested that the roof would be fine to use for walking, sitting, laying decking etc. But I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps he just wanted us to buy the house so that he could complete all of the work he suggested we have done! The roof has leaked in the past and has been repaired (to what standard I don't know)

3. What in particular makes you say that the whole thing.looks damp? Aside from the evidence of damp proofing?

4. No record of planning permission with the council, but have been advised by council that planning permission may not have been required, and due to it's age (80s), even if it was built without permission, that would no longer be an issue. 

5. Anything else indicating that the extension is "bad"? Any other general thoughts? Feels a real stroke of luck to have a structural engineer on here :-)

We'll be getting a structural surveyor out ASAP. 

Many thanks 

Also, any thoughts on the slope?

Thoughts??  Just no.  It looks like the house that Jack built, sorry.  Ask yourself if you would still buy the house without the extension.  

weeg

tui85 said:

KJIWTIStructE said:

This extension looks quite poor. The crack is located where the wall is weak due to the window, the small panel below the cill takes very little load. Hopefully the corner has a post where the windows meet, who on earth puts windows around a corner looking into a neighbor's garden? Looks like they came by some spare double glazing and cobbled together a dodgy extension, sorry but it is bad...
1. The sliding doors upstairs indicate the roof is used in some way. There is no barrier so this is possibly illegal, plus the roof probably isn't designed for the imposed loading that walking on it would apply, not saying it will fail but the finished might and then it will leak.
2. Whole thing looks damp.
3. Does it have planning and building regs?
I would not buy it but if you really like the house get a full structural survey of the whole thing and try to get someone with a damp meter also.

Thank you for your message. 

1. There is no post in the corner where the windows meet. It's all window....

2. Our builder suggested that the roof would be fine to use for walking, sitting, laying decking etc. But I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps he just wanted us to buy the house so that he could complete all of the work he suggested we have done! The roof has leaked in the past and has been repaired (to what standard I don't know)

3. What in particular makes you say that the whole thing.looks damp? Aside from the evidence of damp proofing?

4. No record of planning permission with the council, but have been advised by council that planning permission may not have been required, and due to it's age (80s), even if it was built without permission, that would no longer be an issue. 

5. Anything else indicating that the extension is "bad"? Any other general thoughts? Feels a real stroke of luck to have a structural engineer on here :-)

We'll be getting a structural surveyor out ASAP. 

Many thanks 

No post at the corner? 
Ouch.
Options-
1. Walk away
2. Plan on demolishing the extension. Adjust your price accordingly.

Seriously, it's not structurally sound. The crack is just indicative of a bigger problem. uPVC windows, aren't strong enough to hold up a roof- let alone one people may walk on. that thing is so far from complying with either planning or building regs. Just no.