Perry Gunn wrote:

The opening is about 8ft. It's a two-story house and the opening was
originally a ground floor window (now free space) and the wood is
bridging the inner of the cavity wall skins.

So is the opening the same size as before - just with the window
removed? If so I would expect any support above to still be adequate.

By someone doing the calculations to show that it is adequately
supported perhaps?


Point taken! Although it doesn't appear to be adequate any more given
the subsequent movement of the wall and cracking that has occurred.

Well if you were getting cracks forming above the lintel then yes.

You have neglected to mention the type of soil in your area, but the
type of crack you describe is typical on clay soils and can be caused by
changes in the water table, or commonly by close proximity of tree roots.

--
Cheers,

John.

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