Possible Subsidance?

[Jacob1571]

Victorian house, and we don’t know if the cracks are long standing as we’ve just purchased it as FTBs who don’t know a lot about this stuff. RICS survey prior to moving in found no external signs of subsidence so am worried he missed this. Cracks on both sides of door (leading to extension) as pictured. The door closes and opens perfectly fine. Thoughts?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

No expert, but those look fairly minor plaster cracks.

 

[KenGMac]

Jacob1571, good evening.

Not Subsidence.

As Harry above, minor plaster cracking, do you know if the walls have been skimmed ?

Crack at wall / ceiling very common, was the property empty for some time prior to your purchase?

Crack at door?? door slammed / crack happens over time.

Ken

 

[Jacob1571]

Jacob1571, good evening.

Not Subsidence.

As Harry above, minor plaster cracking, do you know if the walls have been skimmed ?

Crack at wall / ceiling very common, was the property empty for some time prior to your purchase?

Crack at door?? door slammed / crack happens over time.

Ken

Hi Ken! We don’t know about skimmed, but the property was empty for around a month. Heating was completely off during this time.

 

[^woody^]

The out of level architrave and the thermal stress cracks are unrelated.

 

[Jacob1571]

The out of level architrave and the thermal stress cracks are unrelated.

Thanks Woody! Would you consider either a problem? Sorry, we’re completely new to this!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Thanks Woody! Would you consider either a problem? Sorry, we’re completely new to this!

I will answer it - no, you do not have a problem with either item. You have nothing to worry about.

 

[Jacob1571]

I will answer it - no, you do not have a problem with either item. You have nothing to worry about.

That’s such a relief! Sorry, there’s just the fear wed moved into a time bomb!

 

[Deleted member 292770]

it’s been up 100 years and most likely will be up another 100. Could have been worse you could have bought a new house.

 

[^woody^]

Those locations are weak points for cracking which tends to be from normal flexing of the structure or expansion/shrinkage due to seasonal changes or (most likely in this case) extreme changes in heating or occupancy patterns.

If the doors are not binding then there's no problem.

Move that smoke alarm to the ceiling, minimum 300mm from a wall but preferably more central to the room. If it's intended to detect a fire from that kitchen, fit a heat alarm to the kitchen ceiling instead.