Bay window subsidence?

uneverknow

I also think something's been going on, the question is has it now settled or is it progressing. Thanks again everyone for your feedback.

davilown

Op, there’s nothing wrong with the olyg socket.

Is it a house or flat - what does the downstairs bay look like? In all likelihood it’ll be the lintel holding the bay up that’s at fault.

When you get a survey done, specifically ask the surveyor to look at that area. They can then advise you in what it may or may not be.

Don’t listen to worriers on here - we aren’t professionals who do this day in day out (well most of us aren’t!).

AdrianC

Another vote here for it being the downstairs windows to blame.


The original frames would have been load bearing in a way that the tupperware simply isn't. Probably steel-frame.

ProDave

The issue is the ground floor window.

A lot of bay windows like that were designed to take some support from substantial corner posts in the timber downstairs windows.  Often when "upgrading" to double glazing, the window company don't allow for any structural support in the new window.

The result is the whole of the upstairs bay sags a little and cracks as you see.

The sollution is prop the floor of the bay with acro props and get the downstairs window replaced with one designed properly to give some support to the upstairs bay.

uneverknow

No cracks around the ground floor bay. Thank you for pointing out the lack of support in the ground floor windows, will definitely have it checked. Feel more confident about offering on the property, since subsidence looks less likely now.

maisie_cat

I'd second UPVC replacement windows without lintels or steel supports, had a neighbour with the same problem a few years ago. I suspect it's not a cheap fix, although the windows probably were!

ciderboy2009

OP - bear in mind that the reinforced windows required to take the weight are quite a bit more expensive than normal ones.

When we were doing our bay window the quotes we got ranged from 50% to 300% more expensive than normal windows.

jimbog

Take a look at the historical Streetview pictures on Google and you might find the history of the render

uneverknow

That historical Streetview on google maps is a great tip! I found these pics from 2009 and 2012, vs now. Makes me wonder about those concrete tiles again, or some other movement in the past. I can see now why the weatherboards were added to that top section, not sure if anything else is still happening or is it settled. The current owners bought in 2014, perhaps their survey said the movement had settled? Curious what you would think of these pictures, thank again everyone. 

AdrianC

The windows are at least 12yo, then.

It clearly had a bit of a tart and facelift sometime post-2012 - not just the faciaboard, but gutters etc. Unfortunately, because the original timbered detail would be far nicer with a little bit of a cuddle.

When's the current pic dated?