crack in external wall - which survey

[millwallfcuk]

hi folks,

Just a quick one around a crack in a outside wall on a house i'm looking to buy. It's seems to go through the cement of the bricks from the middle of the house to the roof and is visible on the inside and outside.... i'm buying the house from my mum who has lived there for 50 odd years and always remembers it being there....

the house is c70 years old and in nottingham which is known for mines / subsidence....

would a building survey, a home buyers survey of a specialist 'crack' survey be best. Or given the time its been there is it worth just ignoring??

cheers for any advice.

james

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Has it just cracked in the mortar joints or through bricks too and any lintels?

 

[joinerjohn]

Plenty of Crack specialists in Nottingham. Have you tried asking down Hyson Green?

 

[millwallfcuk]

not through the bricks as far as i can see.... it is visible from inside and out thou.

 

[Bankrupt]

not through the bricks as far as i can see.... it is visible from inside and out thou.

I don't like the sound of that - It's serious cracking if it's both inside and outside.

I think a proper survey is required to determine if the settlement that caused it has stopped or is still ongoing.

How long has the crack been there for, over what time period did it develop and is the size of the crack increasing ?
Don't accept "It's always been like that".....

 

[Static]

Get a structural survey done on it or a fully structural survey on the whole property.. or youll end up with a line on a building survey / home buyers that says "Crack in rear wall, structural survey should be undertaken to assess fully"

 

[millwallfcuk]

cheers for the advice....

the crack has def been there for over 40 years and is, im told, the same size (by my mum)

so in terms of survey, do i just ask for someone to look at the crack alone? Am i right thinking around £300 for that?

Like static said, i don't want to pay for a survey to then be told i need another!

 

[RonnyRaygun]

As Static said, you need a structural survey carried out by a structural engineer. A building surveyor will tell you there is a crack there, and then tell you to seek the advice of a SE.

A SE will probably want to monitor the crack for signs of further movement. If it's increasing/decreasing in size over a period of time (although your mum says it isn't) then it may be a bigger job than if the movement has ceased.

The current owner can then try to get the work done under their buildings insurance - which the insurance company will try their hardest to avoid paying out on...

If you buy knowing there is a structural issue it may be very difficult to insure.