Normal damp course, or stepped crack?

Section62

ManuelG said:

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?

Is the bungalow built on a sloping plot, or is it more or less level?

It is fairly common and normal for a DPC to be stepped in cases where the ground slopes considerably, although the stepping is somewhat more extreme in this case than typical.

However, there could be a valid reason for that, so don't dismiss this property as cowboy-built without knowing/understanding why it has been built the way it has.  The lack of overall (or wider angle) pictures makes it very difficult to comment.

Does the EA's listing have better pictures of the property overall, and floor plans?

ManuelG

Section62 said:

ManuelG said:

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?

Is the bungalow built on a sloping plot, or is it more or less level?

It is fairly common and normal for a DPC to be stepped in cases where the ground slopes considerably, although the stepping is somewhat more extreme in this case than typical.

However, there could be a valid reason for that, so don't dismiss this property as cowboy-built without knowing/understanding why it has been built the way it has.  The lack of overall (or wider angle) pictures makes it very difficult to comment.

Does the EA's listing have better pictures of the property overall, and floor plans?

It is indeed a sloping plot overall, although the top of it where the bungalow has been built has been levelled (obviously?).

stuart45

Where is the inside floor level compared to the external DPC?

ManuelG

Right, so had two surveyors check this out - one by photos, the other visited. Neither of them think it's an issue - second one also tested damp levels within the house, all of which are fine. His conclusion is it's changing of ground levels and marrying up to the conservatory.

So merging into one of the other threads, surveyors are there not only to flag issues if you haven't noticed them, but also to reassure you that issues you think might be there... aren't(!)