Cracks in rendering above window

[granada42]

Hello

I am about to purchase a 1930s bay fronted semi, offer has been accepted just waiting for mortgage approval.
I went to look again at the house today and noticed a vertical crack in the rendering on the side of the house above a stairwell window reaching up to the top of the wall (approx 2 feet long). I have an estate agent's photo which I have edited to show the position of the crack. Not a very good photo I know.

Untitled

• granada42
• 29 Oct 2009
• 1

The house next door has a similar vertical crack and a couple of others (all of the same design) around the corner have them above the same window.

Anything to worry too much about would you think? I guess when my survey gets done then I'll know more.

Thanks in advance.

 

[BlackPotato]

With that picture its impossible to tell. That said a lot of houses do move a little and that is a common place for any movement to show its self and it could well be nothing from a structural perspective.

If you look at the same location inside is there any cracking, also any in the celling etc ?

You could also ask a structural contractor the cost to rectify the problem, if its nothing major it will only be a couple hundered quid. Actually paying an engineer would be ideal but with a contractor you will probably get the job done less in total than it would cost to get the enginner out

 

[granada42]

Thanks for the reply

Not noticed any cracking inside. I've uploaded some better pictures.
The rest of the wall looks ok with no cracks. There is a chunk of missing rendering at the other end of the wall (not sure what happened there).

The house is in a cluster of about 8 all of the same design. Of those that I can see 3 have some form of crack above the same window.


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Image


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[granada42]

crack closeup

• granada42
• 5 Nov 2009
• 1

crack above window

• granada42
• 5 Nov 2009
• 1

 

[BlackPotato]

My gut feelin is thats only in the render, but I should say I'm only a guy who has restored a few houses, all be it old ones, not a SE/Builder.