How big of an external wall crack is a BAD crack?

FreeBear

Assuming it is just superficial cracks in the render, then filling them with a cementitious grout and then painting over shouldn't cost too much. If you are feeling adventurous up a ladder, it is something you could do yourself... Or pay a handyman £100 or so...

If the cracks extend through the brickwork, then a structural assessment needs to be carried out. Helical stitching may be specified as a repair - Not something you (or anyone else) should be attempting from a ladder. A scaffold tower or full blown scaffold would be required which would add significantly to the cost.

pmartin86

,I'm not an expert at all, just a keen DIYer who gets a bit over-enthusiastic with a screwdriver - However based on others pointing out it looks like render rather than actual brickwork, and the "worn off paint" to the bottom left looks like it might be caused by water flow - Cant quite see but looks like a flat roof too, possibly a poorly done flat roof (which is about 90% of the ones I've seen to be fair) can water is running down the edge and the wall instead of the guttering? Could certainly be a contributing factor if nothing else.

stuart45

It's odd that the builders did that style of finish, which is a lot of extra work compared to normal render and even penny rolled the joints, but didn't bother to set out the work properly or even do the outer reveals of the window.

twopenny

3 different types of roofing - what are the joins like under the tiles? And the bit towards the flat roof.

It definitely looks like water is pouring down the wall lower down where it's gone black and also, to a lesser extent, on the other side. Could be heavy rain overflowing the gutter ends so that will be a constant maintenance problem.

Plus 2 flat roofs - that might be and extra on your buildings insurance.

Any work being done on that house that requires scaffolding is going to be expensive because of the tower and protrusion with the window at the bottom.

Is the space downstairs important enough to you that you are happy to spend money and a hassle on potential problems?

Rosa_Damascena

purplebutterfly said:

Thanks everyone,  it is a bathroom.  I don't know why they extended the bathroom but it's bigger than the two double bedrooms.  

Does anyone have any idea how much it would cost if the brickwork was okay underneath and it just needed re-rendering?

It may be a monstrosity but I really am not bothered about how my property will look from the outside as long as the inside works for my needs.  This is the first house we've seen in 8 months that gives us the downstairs space we require. 

You have all really really helped me though - the seller is already asking about £15k more than comparable properties in the area! 

 

Then it is your duty to disabuse them of their illusion.