These assignments are like maths questions - its not the answer but the working out which gets you more points.
So it is very important to do the reply in a proper report format, to consider all possibilities and then to discount or conclude on a cause.
Don't go on a goose chase looking for plans and site layouts etc, as no-one would do that ... its just a crack in a garage and all the evidence is on site. If you don't have certain information, then assume - as long as its a logical assumption the lecturer will be none the wiser
Lay out the report in the standard way. Stick to writing in the third person and not "I did" or "I saw"
Introduction
- confirm the instruction, say what will be done, and how. Date and weather conditions, and put some of the standard disclaimers.
Contents
Summary
- a few sentences only. Summarise the Conclusion, do not rewrite or add anything not in the conclusion
Investigation/inspection
- describe what you see, nothing else. You may lift an inspection chamber, or open and close some doors and windows, so say what you did. Describe the construction, the age etc. Describe facts only and do not comment
Discussion
- write about what you saw and did and what it means. That crack could be thermal expansion/contraction - what are the signs of this, and are the signs there? It could be subsidence, what causes this, are those things there? Are there any other defects indicative of a particular problem?
Detail all the possible causes and state if the evidence was there from what you saw and wrote about in the investigation - comment on the facts
It would be good to refer to other research or standards - eg the BRE, British Standards (or Irish ones!) or Building Regulations
Conclusion
- consider everything in the discussion, and say if what was seen on site leans towards any particular cause. Likewise, say why a particular cause is unlikely. Do not introduce anything new, only include what has been mentioned previously.
Then say what is the most likely cause and state categorically why
I would then suggest a possible repair method and a timescale
Appendices
You may want to put photos here or in the main body of the report.
A hand drawn site plan with pertinent features noted - no need for scaled but must be in proportion
Don't include copies of other reports or standards, but a bibliography of other documents referred to may help. Not loads, no more than five, in a simple list
And now the easy bit ....
This is not definitive, there are many possibilities, but its one possible and logical interpretation of what is there
The crack looks old (dirty) - so it does not look like its ongoing. No need to monitor.
It's in the mid section of a long wall (possible thermal movement) but wider at the top (not thermal movement)
So, one or both ends of the wall have dropped (initial settlement or later subsidence, or foundation failure), or the mid section moved up (ground heave)
Has there has been a broken drain, to cause the ground to soften and an end of the garage section to drop. No. Also movement would be ongoing.
Could the tree in the front garden be extracting ground water, causing shrinkage of the soil and subsidence? No. There is no seasonal or ongoing movement
Could there be heave in the central section? No. There are no other signs that the middle has risen, no significant roots, and no clay soil.
So signs point to an event many years ago, which has now stopped. So initial settlement or a foundation problem (quality or suitability). Foundation issues may cause ongoing movement. There are no other similar cracks on similar local properties, so no reason to suspect quality or design.
Looking along the courses, the back part is level, and the front has dropped
So most likely is initial or early settlement, which as stopped, and now everything is stable.
Repair with helical bars which is the least disruptive, and then repoint and re-render
Good luck with your studies
