Brick Movement Above DPC

[Andy B 23]

Good evening

Looking for some guidance.

Currently in the process of buying a bungalow which was built circa 1970.

The concern is a step in the brickwork 2 courses up, it runs from the front of the garage to the back of bungalow, as it gets towards the back of the bungalow it tapers back in. The brickwork sat on the DPC appears to be moving.

The general brickwork/mortar along this elevation is poor with some obvious fine cracking on the rear corner.

It is located in the Torbay area of South Devon, not sure of the soil type, the area has not been mined as far as I am aware.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

It's not that unusual, it's not moving, the courses below the DPC were built while they were crawling around in a trench so ended up slightly out. Then they did the accurate measurements and decided to step to where it should have been rather than carrying the inaccuracy upwards. We have the same on a couple of corners of our 1950s bungalow.

Alternatively the wall may have shrunk after building.

It looks like the mortar has shrunk. It may have been like that when new, if it was built on a hot day. Defininitely needs repointing.

I don't see any evidence of movement in the photos you've provided, but I'd look at the other side of the crack next to the blue fence panel.

All very much IMO!

 

[^woody^]

Was there supposed to be photos?

Movement on the DPC is common and not a concern. It's typically just differential movement of the dissimilar bricks. Nothing to do with the Devon soil.