Vertical cracks in the extension wall

[ksvemuri]

Hi,
I would appreciate some opinions on an issue with a house that i am looking to purchase. The house was extended in the rear some 8 years back and the junction of the rear extension wall with the original main rear wall of the property has been filled with a sealant (as circled in blue in the attached pic; the wall to the right in the pic is the extension wall). The vertical crack is the concern and as you can see the brickwork is not interlocked. The extension has a perpendicular wall to the original wall on one side and on the other side of the extension the new wall is aligned with the original wall but is not interlocked there too (as you can see in the second pic). Are these cracks/joints a concern? Since the extension wall is perpendicular to the original wall, is it not possible to interlock the bricks between the two perpendicular walls and is this vertical crack filled with mortar and sealant the correct way of construction? Was the extension not done correctly from a structural standpoint?

Any opinions on these vertical joints/cracks would be greatly appreciated. TIA.

K

 

[noseall]

Hi,
I would appreciate some opinions on an issue with a house that i am looking to purchase. The house was extended in the rear some 8 years back and the junction of the rear extension wall with the original main rear wall of the property has been filled with a sealant (as circled in blue in the attached pic; the wall to the right in the pic is the extension wall). The vertical crack is the concern and as you can see the brickwork is not interlocked. The extension has a perpendicular wall to the original wall on one side and on the other side of the extension the new wall is aligned with the original wall but is not interlocked there too (as you can see in the second pic). Are these cracks/joints a concern? Since the extension wall is perpendicular to the original wall, is it not possible to interlock the bricks between the two perpendicular walls and is this vertical crack filled with mortar and sealant the correct way of construction? Was the extension not done correctly from a structural standpoint?

Any opinions on these vertical joints/cracks would be greatly appreciated. TIA.

K

It's a deliberate (differential movement) joint, similar to an expansion joint.