House falling apart?

[sandyRoe]

I had a single story extension built on my house about 4 years ago. Two long thin vertical crack have since appeared where the new walls meet the old. If this gets worse and I need to get it fixed would the cost be covered by household insurance?

[sfby]

I think any insurer would want you to get the builder to put it right at his expense. I would hope any reputable builder will belong to some sort of guarantee scheme.

[Zacs-Master]

I think any insurer would want you to have it surveyed by a structural engineer or at least an RICS qualified surveyor, before going to a builder.
Are they cracks in the masonary (brickwork or stone) or just in the mortar where the old meets the new?

[Myriad2112]

Probably not. I had a leak in a chimney that lead to the bathroom wall almost falling down, We had the insurance man out who said it was not covered by the insurance as it was just wear and tear. The other one they like is 'an act of god'. At the end of the day they like taking your money but the don't like paying it out.

[sandyRoe]

The cracks are in the plaster.
The builder used to advertise in the local press but I haven't seen any of his ads for a while.

[shoota]

Have you tried 'probing' the crack with a needle or something to see if the crack is just the plaster shrinking slightly or whether it is a deeper problem?

[Zacs-Master]

I presume you obtained building reg's for the works and the Local Authority inspector came to view, and signed off, the foundations?

[Myriad2112]

That sounds a bit pornagraphic shooter :-)

[mazie]

Could just be the plastering sandy..Don't you know any builder sorts that might have a look for you?

[sandyRoe]

I haven't, Shoota. I was thinking of getting a plasterer in to chip away where the cracks are and then replaster. If it was just the plaster shrinking that might solve it.

[sandyRoe]

The trenches for the foundations were a good depth, more that 2' I'd say. The work was all done according to the book as far as I know.

[Zacs-Master]

I can't be sure but it would sound cosmetic to me rather than structural. If you're asking a builder to have a look, be careful. If they sugeest it is structural, get a surveyor to substantiate their claims.

BTW it's called 'render' when this type of finish is on the outside of a building.

[The Builder]

Most likely to be minor "settlement" Sandy. Very different from "subsidence". Subsidence is usually a major(ish) condition where the foundations have have moved because the ground under the footings has lost its capacity to carry the load. Technical stuff such as "frost heave"; "clay heave", trees; water washing the ground away...... some of the likely causes.
Settlement is where a load has, how can I put this? ..... found its final resting place. Much, much smaller than subsidence. A millimetre settlement can easily give a visible crack in the render.
Construction is not quite the exact science that many people think it is. This commonly occurs even after all best practices have been followed religiously.

Old practice was to simply bang two lumps of masonry together (house & extension), and leave it at that.
Better practice is to physically "stop" render on the extension with a deliberate butt joint known as a crack line/crack joint/expansion joint. In a way, you're building-in a crack ........ so that it doesn't have to occur anywhere else. It's discreet and unobtrusive.

Sorry about the long rattle, but I thought you might like to know.

Epilogue (sorry)
Probably minor settlement.
If it's timber frame... probably minor shrinkage.

If you're worried, a Surveyor could bond glass "tell-tales" across the crack to indicate major movement if it exists. I would guess that it would only be then that an Insurance Company would take notice.

[jomifl]

If there are no cracks on the corresponding part of the outside wall then there is nothing to worry about as the crack will only be in the plaster.

[sandyRoe]

Thank you all for your reassuring answers. I might get a plasterer in to tidy it up. As long as it doesn't fall down round my ears, which I doubt it will, I think I'll do no more than that.

[whiskeryron]

As a complete novice in these things could I ask, shouldn't a brick extension be tied in to the main brickwork rather than butted together ? Just a thought.

WR.

[The Builder]

That's right Ron. I was referring just to the external render. I assumed that's what Sandy was talking about.

[jomifl]

I assumed he was referring to the internal plaster, doh!
Sandy, more info. needed.

[sandyRoe]

The cracks are on the inner walls right in the angle where the old and new walls meet. There's no sign of any cracking on the outside of the house.

[jomifl]

Sandy, you worry too much, It's OK, now have a peaceful night.

[sandyRoe]

God bless you for that reassurance, Jomifl :-)