Cracked wall beneath purlin

[evanthorncliffe]

Hi, the cracks in the wall beneath the purlin have been there a while. I forgotten about them tbh as  I've had other stresses in life. But having started some works down stairs (damproofing and skim).  I went to check and knowing next to nothing about construction and a habitual catastrophiser I'm now worried.

It's a party wall in a small 1860 mid terrace built in Cheshire brick with 9 inch solid walls and there the neighbors chimney on the other side. They had removed the chimney in the first floor and had to have it supported over twenty years ago. The cracks are slightly bigger since then, there are hairline cracks in the render in my first floor directly beneath. I've been told it could be settlement and not to worry from a builder, just maybe put some straps in. But should I get a structural engineer in too have a look? Any advice gratefully taken. I've included the opposite end of the beam in my house to replicate what is on the other side of the party wall

[Nickfromwales]

Set your catastrophic concerns aside for tonight at least   It’s not going anywhere, anytime soon.

 

Just looks like typical moment of such a structure over such a period of time.

 

There are methods for “stitching” brickwork together to prevent further degradation, involving taking out the mortar, inserting linear metal binders, and then back filling the joints with a high integrity resin (iirc) mortar (pointing system) which is recognised and certified as a long term solution.

 

For your own peace of mind, you can get an SE out to examine, but I’d suggest avoiding any 1st year apprentices and go for someone who’s been in the game for a while who will give you a sensible and pragmatic service/opinion and a robust method for rectification.

 

If works been done next door and power breakers were used, this would’ve been enough to encourage those cracks to grow a bit.

 

@saveasteading / @Gus Potter

[saveasteading]

Your SE would see the diagonal direction of the crack, and be happy that the beam is supported and the load is spreading as intended.

They will likely then say to leave it alone until we see what the winter does. The ground may be very dry and have shrunk, and may close the gap again. This would take many months of wetter weather.

However I'm not your SE and can't look at any other factors that may not be shown or explained here.

 

The horizontal crack concerns me very slightly more, but is probably the same thing. . Again perhaps wait to winter..... and let us know.

[evanthorncliffe]

4 hours ago, Nickfromwales said:

Set your catastrophic concerns aside for tonight at least   It’s not going anywhere, anytime soon.

 

Just looks like typical moment of such a structure over such a period of time.

 

There are methods for “stitching” brickwork together to prevent further degradation, involving taking out the mortar, inserting linear metal binders, and then back filling the joints with a high integrity resin (iirc) mortar (pointing system) which is recognised and certified as a long term solution.

 

For your own peace of mind, you can get an SE out to examine, but I’d suggest avoiding any 1st year apprentices and go for someone who’s been in the game for a while who will give you a sensible and pragmatic service/opinion and a robust method for rectification.

 

If works been done next door and power breakers were used, this would’ve been enough to encourage those cracks to grow a bit.

 

@saveasteading / @Gus Potter

Thanks, you have put my mind at ease. The horizontal crack has been there years and it seems to have been built up at a separate time to block up gap. Sticking sounds a good idea

[Brickie]

More concerned about the damp proofing & skim downstairs tbh…