Join between old bungalow and new extension

[Yorkshireblonde55]

Hi. Wonder if you can help we are looking to build a dorma on this bungalow. An extension was added on 10 years ago a big open plan. The join looks a little poor to me uneven becoming wider and bricks in front of others. Anything to be concerned about?

[Yorkshireblonde55]

Just now, Yorkshireblonde55 said:

Hi. Wonder if you can help we are looking to build a dorma on this bungalow. An extension was added on 10 years ago a big open plan. The join looks a little poor to me uneven becoming wider and bricks in front of others. Anything to be concerned about?

 

[markc]

Certainly not the best looking joint, can you post some pics from further away and is the joint wider at the top? Any cracks indoors at this location?

[Yorkshireblonde55]

11 hours ago, markc said:

Certainly not the best looking joint, can you post some pics from further away and is the joint wider at the top? Any cracks indoors at this location?

Yes it does go slightly wider and there are some small cracks in the plaster inside. 

[Yorkshireblonde55]

This is the crack inside not huge but evidently been covered before 

[markc]

Hi, the extension is sinking at the opposite end to joint. All buildings settle a bit but as your joint has been repaired previously and opened up again then it’s still moving. Hard to be specific without a timeline but you are probably looking at underpinning or take down and rebuild if you want to stop the movement. It’s not going to fall down anytime soon so no panic. 
don’t look at building anything onto this extension or extending upwards, to check the movement, stick some tell-tales over the crack and determine the movement over the next month/months as this will give a much better idea.

what is the ground like around the extension? Trees (especially any removed in the last year or few years).

[Yorkshireblonde55]

Thanks Mark that’s slightly worrying as not picked up in survey at all. Extension has been here for 10 years with 2 previous owners so would think it’s unusual nobody noticed before. I will make the marks like you said and also got the surveyor coming back out. 

[Yorkshireblonde55]

Just for context this is the extension its the left side that has the crack other side seems fine. Neighbours garage restricts access. Any other opinions would be great slightly worried about potential thought of a total rebuild! 

[Yorkshireblonde55]

Inside of house where wall is joined. Two previous owners since the extension was put on by developers 

[markc]

Ahh, much better pics to give context. Any problems with ceiling to wall joint? Is this opening or been filled in the past?

I was thinking this was a small extension sort of stuck on, but the build looks good, assume bi folds are working ok and no other issues so the gap and brick misalignment is becoming a mystery and the extension sinking is looking less likely.

is the floor still level? If so then rule out underpinning etc. as the problem must be local to the joint, not the whole build

Edited October 5, 2022 by markc

[Yorkshireblonde55]

Thanks mark a few hairline cracks in plaster around the beam but nothing worrying no sign of anything being covered up. Floor is level across the extension (horizontal and in that corner level) slightly off coming from old build to new but this seems to be across the build with a prominent bump in kitchen where they maybe didn’t go down low enough removing bricks?. No issues with bifold doors. We did think it was quite a good build aside from this. Join on the other side is much better also