Brick crack

tony3619

Hello, 

I noticed this crack on the outside of the house directing under the a double window. It measures about 1.5 -2 mm. I've been keeping an eye on it for about 4 months and I don't think it's got any bigger? Does this look like thermal cracking? 

Section62

tony3619 said:

I noticed this crack on the outside of the house directing under the a double window. It measures about 1.5 -2 mm. I've been keeping an eye on it for about 4 months and I don't think it's got any bigger? Does this look like thermal cracking? 

We'll need to see a larger area of the wall, particularly the area to the right and below.

Of the visible area the crack appears to be wider at the top than the bottom, which typically implies rotational movement around the foundations (e.g. "hogging") - but only by seeing the wall in context can a slightly more definite answer be given.

tony3619

Property is 5 years old. It's a townhouse joined to a property either side (you can just see the adjoining walls in the photo which is beige) I've circled where the crack is. 

shiraz99

Judging by the state of the brick faces I'd guess that the crack was caused by whoever fitted the window.

tony3619

I know they are terrible! Someone has taken a hammer to them by the looks of it. 

I think the crack looks too neat for a heavy handed window fitter though? 

shiraz99 said:

Judging by the state of the brick faces I'd guess that the crack was caused by whoever fitted the window.

stuart45

That's quite a short length of brickwork for thermal cracking. It's less than 4 metres, and movement joints are normally every 10-12 metres in clay brickwork. It's possible the opening was a course too high, and the fitters knocked off a course as shiraz99 said. The joints would crack like that if the brickwork was knocked.

tony3619

stuart45 said:

That's quite a short length of brickwork for thermal cracking. It's less than 4 metres, and movement joints are normally every 10-12 metres in clay brickwork. It's possible the opening was a course too high, and the fitters knocked off a course as shiraz99 said. The joints would crack like that if the brickwork was knocked.

Would you say it's worth getting a survey done for subsidence? Or keep an eye on it to see if it gets worse? I have 5 years left on the structural new build warranty (for what's it's worth) so I don't want evidence of a claim unless sure as buyers can access past claims. 

I definitely think you may have a point about being a course too high. Looking at the sealant and state of the bricks I reckon they have used some brute force and made the window fit. 

aoleks

tony3619 said:

stuart45 said:

That's quite a short length of brickwork for thermal cracking. It's less than 4 metres, and movement joints are normally every 10-12 metres in clay brickwork. It's possible the opening was a course too high, and the fitters knocked off a course as shiraz99 said. The joints would crack like that if the brickwork was knocked.

Would you say it's worth getting a survey done for subsidence? Or keep an eye on it to see if it gets worse? I have 5 years left on the structural new build warranty (for what's it's worth) so I don't want evidence of a claim unless sure as buyers can access past claims. 

I definitely think you may have a point about being a course too high. Looking at the sealant and state of the bricks I reckon they have used some brute force and made the window fit. 

absolutely not, that's not subsidence. keep an eye on it, but there's no need to worry. repoint if you have to, but the house won't go anywhere.

stuart45

Just get it pointed and keep your eyes on it.
It looks like the brick course was replaced with a tile.

Section62

tony3619 said:

Property is 5 years old. It's a townhouse joined to a property either side (you can just see the adjoining walls in the photo which is beige) I've circled where the crack is. 

There appear to be movement/construction joints either side of that panel, so thermal issues are unlikely.

There is something crack-like along the left-most brick on the soldier course above the doorway - although it isn't possible to tell from the photo whether it is a crack, or just poor workmanship.  Can you post a closeup of the area circled here -

Edit: now two circled areas I think need a closer look at.

Section62

aoleks said:

tony3619 said:

stuart45 said:

That's quite a short length of brickwork for thermal cracking. It's less than 4 metres, and movement joints are normally every 10-12 metres in clay brickwork. It's possible the opening was a course too high, and the fitters knocked off a course as shiraz99 said. The joints would crack like that if the brickwork was knocked.

Would you say it's worth getting a survey done for subsidence? Or keep an eye on it to see if it gets worse? I have 5 years left on the structural new build warranty (for what's it's worth) so I don't want evidence of a claim unless sure as buyers can access past claims. 

I definitely think you may have a point about being a course too high. Looking at the sealant and state of the bricks I reckon they have used some brute force and made the window fit. 

absolutely not, that's not subsidence. keep an eye on it, but there's no need to worry. repoint if you have to, but the house won't go anywhere.

You can't possibly tell that just from the information the OP has posted.

Whilst we'd all hope for the OP's sake that it isn't subsidence, stating categorically that it isn't (without evidence) is misleading and poor advice.