What category of crack is this?

whambam

About to go through a home report surveyor and heard I made have a severe cracks which downvalues the house significantly category 2 cracks are ok i heard under 5mm. 

https://youtu.be/qTcZedk5QFU
https://youtu.be/GeycLw3vwA4 

kinger101

I don't think it's that simple.  There's no formula and I cannot see how the cracks relates to rest of the structure, and what the underlying cause may be.

The homebuyer report won't contain anything comprehensive, and will most likely recommend a structural engineers' report to investigate the underlying cause.

Are you buyer or seller?

stuart45

It looks to me like an extension has been added to the house. Nowadays, wall starters are used instead of toothing out the brickwork. When sand/cement mortar is used for the joint, you tend to get a slight crack like this.
It's better to use a poly sulphide sealant for the joint.

GDB2222

Does the crack start at nil at ground level, get bigger, and then get smaller again? Just a bit of shrinkage of the mortar, perhaps? 

stuart45

It's shrinkage of the whole wall. When the wall expands as the temperature warms it up it can't go any further against the main wall, so expands the other way. As it cools down at night it contracts overall, and moved away from the main wall causing this crack. It's the reason why sealants are used nowadays.

Annemos

https://www.bre.co.uk/page.jsp?id=3356&/1000#:~:text=Typical%20crack%20widths%20are%20greater%20than%2025%20mm%2C,regarded%20as%20%E2%80%98aesthetic%E2%80%99%20issues%20that%20require%20only%20redecoration.

When our homes have Subsidence Claims, we come across this characterisation. Please see the above link. 

As kinger101 says, one has to find out what is causing this separation. Also I would say, to find out what soil is under the foundations. If it is an extension, were the foundations designed to be deep enough etc.?

whambam

kinger101 said:

I don't think it's that simple.  There's no formula and I cannot see how the cracks relates to rest of the structure, and what the underlying cause may be.

The homebuyer report won't contain anything comprehensive, and will most likely recommend a structural engineers' report to investigate the underlying cause.

Are you buyer or seller?

There no cracks at the bottom by gets wider as you go upto the top. 

Yes it was installed 1997. So, its normal after a period of time? Would you put the polysulphide sealant in first then cover it with cement mortar ontop same colour as the other existing mortar. 

Great info Annemos. I got told by a real estate surveyor that its minor and its due to settlement its normal. He had a crack wide enough to put his hand through it and says the surveyor passed it without issue. 

stuart45

whambam said

Yes it was installed 1997. So, its normal after a period of time? Would you put the polysulphide sealant in first then cover it with cement mortar ontop same colour as the other existing mortar. 

You only use sealant in movement joints. Mortar will only crack and drop out if put on top.