Normal damp course, or stepped crack?

ManuelG

Apologies if not the right board - I've also tried Googling and all it's brought up is lots of subsidence cracks!

So, have found a house (bungalow) we like. The damp proof membrane behaves oddly however. At the edge of the property, it steps up, giving the appearance of a subsidence crack from a distance. It is near a downpipe, and to the right of it is a conservatory extension, that has a crack inside in the corner (not the other side of this) but vertical along the right angle where conservatory joins original house - I'd assume that's settlement however?

Dodgy photo attached. We like the property, I don't think this is an issue and it's an eccentricity / repair because of a water leak, but having shown the picture to my Dad, he's become the harbinger of doomand it's unnerved me somewhat!

But I shouldn't be overly concerned at this stage, right? I mean, we will be getting a survey if we proceed... but I'd obviously rather not waste everybody's time from the off.

propertyrental

What makes you think that's a dpc....?

youth_leader

I suffered from 'buyer beware' with my bungalow and agree that isn't the dpc.  If you do get a surveyor highlight that area of concern to them, it might lead to you needing a structural surveyor as well.

ManuelG

propertyrental said:

What makes you think that's a dpc....?

Naivety? In all seriousness it's some fabric / membrane in there, and I don't know what else it could be... although the stepping is... unusual.

What would be your suggestion as to what it is?

Sarahspangles

It’s hard to tell from the photo whether there is a black damp proof course membrane that is stepping up in the corner.  And if that is the DPC, why it’s there.  Prior to the construction of the conservatory, was it possible that the ground level was a bit higher at the back of the house?  

MikeJXE

ManuelG said:

propertyrental said:

What makes you think that's a dpc....?

Naivety? In all seriousness it's some fabric / membrane in there, and I don't know what else it could be... although the stepping is... unusual.

What would be your suggestion as to what it is?

I agree the stepping is unusual particularly the curved corners where it cuts through the mortar joints rather than round them

Looking at 4 course below thats the only bed joint that looks anything like a DPC unless it's a cable

More wider angle photos might reveal more ideas 

ManuelG

MikeJXE said:

ManuelG said:

propertyrental said:

What makes you think that's a dpc....?

Naivety? In all seriousness it's some fabric / membrane in there, and I don't know what else it could be... although the stepping is... unusual.

What would be your suggestion as to what it is?

I agree the stepping is unusual particularly the curved corners where it cuts through the mortar joints rather than round them

Looking at 4 course below thats the only bed joint that looks anything like a DPC unless it's a cable

More wider angle photos might reveal more ideas 

The only other one I took is further out.

Sarahspangles

So there’s another crack 9 courses up from the concrete step. The joints almost look like they’ve been sawn.

MikeJXE

IMO 4 course below is the DPC the paving is the wrong level 

is there a step down as you walk through what looks like a patio door ? 

6 course up seems to have a DPC too 

ManuelG

Sarahspangles said:

So there’s another crack 9 courses up from the concrete step. The joints almost look like they’ve been sawn.

Again, not a crack as such. That's bedded into the mortar and again is some kind of fabric / membrane.

ManuelG

MikeJXE said:

IMO 4 course below is the DPC the paving is the wrong level 

is there a step down as you walk through what looks like a patio door ? 

6 course up seems to have a DPC too 

Yep, step down. That's a door out of the garage.