Is this a sign of subsidence?

[yjones]

Hi guys

Im thinking of buying a house and theres lots of cracks around the place. Ive taken some photos/videos of the biggest one: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8fn7kgaqdm0uxac/AABf3S5oJmddqRhmeqOrfWafa?dl=0

Does this look like subsidence, or settlement, or just a crack in the plaster? Is there any way of finding out for sure? (such as taking off some of the plaster). This wall is cob and is a party wall.

Thanks

 

[^woody^]

Is there any way of finding out for sure

Yeah. Pay for a survey.

 

[yjones]

What would a surveyor do? Would he knock away the plaster or look for corresponding exterior cracks?

 

[wessex101]

It is usually a matter of assessing the location, pattern, width, length etc. of the cracks, no need to remove plaster. From that you can make an educated opinion what is causing the movement. Ideally you would want to monitor the cracks for 6 months to establish if the movement is progressive or historical.

The fact that the walls are cob would suggest it is not subsidence as they tend to have very shallow foundations but can accommodate seasonal movement, unless recent work or leaking drains etc. have caused a localised problem.

More likely to be some kind of structural movement within the wall, delamination of the plaster or degradation of the cob core. You'll need a Building Surveyor or Structural Engineer who understands cob construction.

 

[^woody^]

A surveyor won't knock away plaster - he can't it's not his or your house to damage.

He will/should be able determine the most likely cause from all the visible evidence available. The type of cracking can be associated to certain speciic causes. And that cracking is not typical of subsidence, but that's not to say that there is no subsidence.

 

[yjones]

OK - thanks guys!