Wall Fascia Panels Explode

[tali1]

3 terraced houses near me had wall fascia panels explode out into road - does anyone know what could cause this ?
i have posted example pic at is is the bit between roof and bedroom window (just above tv aerial).There was no damge to roof - just strictly fascia panels
http://www.heritageconnectlincoln.com/imgGallery/big_2008_Terraced_Houses_with_shared_entrances.JPG

[Hymie]

I’m no structural engineer – but looking at the photo, the decorative brickwork may not be up to the job of supporting the roof. Given what has happened to your neighbours property, I would definitely not install solar panels on the roof.

You could consider having your property inspected – but I would suspect if they know what has happened to your neighbours property they will recommend additional support for the roof (just to cover their arse).

[buildersmate]

These decorative panels were originally attached to the outer skin bricks? (that grey-coloured stuff) behind the fascias and have just detached. They aren't structural at all.

Victorian houses often used stone lintels over windows on the outer skin and wood on the inner skin as it was cheaper. Yours doesn't seem to be constructed that way and you have very ornate bricks at the top which seem to be wider - I don't think the ornate frontage to the bricks are stuck onto for normal bricks behind. Then over the windows you seem to have those white fascia pieces to make-up the same width as the ornate bricks, which look to me to be 40mm or so wide.

I don't know what has caused them to fall away (presumably into many pieces on the ground) but apart from the obvious danger from falling masonry, I don't see this as hazardous to the remaining structure.

I just don't agree with Hymie's analysis.

[The Builder]

I have to agree that they're not structural, tali.
I can see that the masonry in the pic is solid 9" brick...... very common in late Victorian/Edwardian.
The decorative panels are simply "corbels", or "dentils". Just old names for bits that stick out ......... a bit like teeth (dentil).

You can see more adornment around the door. They were usually made in the workshop, and then just stuck on.
It could well be that the recent weather has caused frost damage, and they have simply "blown".

[tali1]

Just to clarify , when they exploded they left a gaping hole -ie there was no brickwork or any structure left behind