Cracks under my newish windows

[DIYlabGuy]

I had some new double glazing installed all around our 3 bed house. And shortly after the installation very small cracks had appeared in the plaster under both sides of my upstairs bay window. This bay window sits over an identical bay window below it.
I didn't pay it too much attention as I thought it might be more superficial than serious as it was only a hairline crack and I figured I would be able to use a simple filler to have it looking good again.

Over the last month or so we've had a few hot days and I've noticed the crack has expanded little by little.

A few days ago we had a few very hot days, and the cracks are what you see in the photos now.

I can actually see daylight behind the bigger cracks, so it seems the cracks have gone through all the way to the outside. And this was confirmed when I noticed hairline cracks in my outside render. Now this worried me so I used a very small amount of polyfilla on the out side crack just to stop the ingress of water should it rain. I didn't want any bigger problems!

I would have liked to get in touch with the glazier and ask them to fix this situation but he seems to have disappeared from the check a trade website and I find him nowhere else. So this means a big bill undoubtedly for myself and the wife, I was hoping the community may have a solution to our problem. Perhaps you can advise me how I can repair possibly or even the type of professional I may need to hire to get the wall fixed? I thought about pouring a filler in to the crack but I don't want to make it worse.

Any advice you have for me would be great. Thank you team!

 

[crank39]

Is the company still trading, look on companies house. Did they leave you any paperwork like a FENSA certificate or CERTASS, if you have paperwork you should have the details of the 10year guarantee backed by an insurance company.

Basically your upstairs bay has dropped, pvc bay windows are not structural, they cannot support the bricks above nevermind the upstairs bay, any reputable company would fit bay jacks to the downstairs bay in each corner post, these are like little acro's you use to support a house wall when removing bricks or fitting a lintel, first you need to check if bay jacks were fitted if not then you have big problems

 

[crank39]

Here's a bay window I was called to to inspect for an insurance company, I found the brick work falling away from the house so had to quickly cobble together a fix until proper works could be arranged, the gap between the top of the frame and the rotten lintel is shocking, see how the weight of the bricks has compressed the packers, the brick work should not be touching the frame anywhere apart from the corner posts between each segment and the posts should be jacked up to take the weight off the window, you have clearly got a gap above the downstairs bay that the brickwork is sinking in to, eventually it could potentially fall away from the house

 

[DIYlabGuy]

That's really worrying. Thank you for the information. If I can't get in touch with the glazier who should I get in touch with? I imagine this is something I need to address quickly before it gets worse.

 

[foxhole]

That's really worrying. Thank you for the information. If I can't get in touch with the glazier who should I get in touch with? I imagine this is something I need to address quickly before it gets worse.

You didn’t answer any of Cranks questions?

 

[ronniecabers]

Repeating Cranks excellent advice..
First port of call is the original fitter... if he/they no longer Trade then were you issued with any form of certification saying this conforms to building regs, eg Fensa , Certass or a new company called Assure. If you were then there should be an insurance backed warranty issued , as its a requirement of the schemes to issue one but they only come into force if the fitter/company has ceased trading

 

[DIYlabGuy]

In reply to crank39 and Ronniecabers, I have my terms and conditions of sale where the 10 year guarantee is stated. But no information about insurance like FENSA, Certass, Assure. I'm not sure if this is because the installer is a sole trader. I'm still hearing nothing back from the installer ever though they read my original message with attached images on WhatsApp. I may have to go to citizens advice for this as I'm not sure what comes next. Thanks for the information again.

 

[ronniecabers]

If you know the name of the installer then you should be able to look up on the websites of fensa etc and see if he's a registered installer. If you have no certificates and he's not a registered installer then you have no insurance backed warranty.
This doesn't help you at all but I see people question why fensa certass etc exist and unfortunately you are seeing one of the main reasons ... the insurance backed warranty. Those not registered or going through LABC don't have to offer one at all, whereas members f fensa certass etc not only have to offer it ... they have to provide it. I really hope the fitter does the honourable thing and at least looks at the issues

 

[DIYlabGuy]

Okay, thanks for the information. I'll be trying to find out more and do more research for any work in the future.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

He won't be on fensa or certass, you know it, I know it the OP's been taken to the cleaners, it ain't right but why people don't do a bit of research before embarking upon stuff is beyond me.

 

[DIYlabGuy]

My own silliness by assuming checkatrade was a legitimate venue to find certified tradespeople

 

[ronniecabers]

If you haven't already, report him to checkatrade .. never know they might be helpful but I have my suspicions lol