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Crack on outside wall
Hi hope someone can tell me if I am doing the right thing. Last year my brother noticed a crack on my side wall it was only 3ft in length it just looked like the mortar was crumbling he told me to keep an eye on it. I looked at it again earlier this year (Feb) and I was shocked to find the crack its now over 10ft high and has gone through two small half bricks into the upstairs part of the wall, the initial crack hasn't gone through the damp proof course just gone upwards mostly following the mortar except fot the two half bricks. I have informed insurance company in Febuary but only got a final reply that this crack was due to earthquake movement that happend in 2001/2002 and that I wasn't insured with them at the time and to take it up with insuer that I was. In the mean time the mortar has started to fall out and I am worried that I will be piggy in the middle the bad weather has started and I know the crack will get worse by the time winter has ended. What I have done and probably will have to re-do-it is I have got Duck tape waterproof and some bin bags and went up some ladders and sealed the crack under bags so keep the water and frost out hopefully, I just want to know am I doing the right thing or will I make it worse please help Thank You |
Crack on outside wall
Gloxx1961 wrote: [snip] ..... I have informed insurance company in Febuary but only got a final reply that this crack was due to earthquake movement that happend in 2001/2002 and that I wasn't insured with them at the time and to take it up with insuer that I was ....[snip] How the hell do they know that? Can they prove it? If you have a crack that's growing you should get a structural engineer to give you an opinion as to the cause. Mike |
Crack on outside wall
Gloxx1961 wrote: Hi hope someone can tell me if I am doing the right thing. Last year my brother noticed a crack on my side wall it was only 3ft in length it just looked like the mortar was crumbling he told me to keep an eye on it. I looked at it again earlier this year (Feb) and I was shocked to find the crack its now over 10ft high and has gone through two small half bricks into the upstairs part of the wall, the initial crack hasn't gone through the damp proof course just gone upwards mostly following the mortar except fot the two half bricks. I have informed insurance company in Febuary but only got a final reply that this crack was due to earthquake movement that happend in 2001/2002 and that I wasn't insured with them at the time and to take it up with insuer that I was. In the mean time the mortar has started to fall out and I am worried that I will be piggy in the middle the bad weather has started and I know the crack will get worse by the time winter has ended. What I have done and probably will have to re-do-it is I have got Duck tape waterproof and some bin bags and went up some ladders and sealed the crack under bags so keep the water and frost out hopefully, I just want to know am I doing the right thing or will I make it worse please help Thank You Many walls crack for many different reasons. I would use a silicone dispenser and fill it with silicone or tar to keep the rain out and just hope it doesnt get worse. It may not get worse. It would be interesting to see a picture of the full wall and the full house to evaluate the structure. Do you have a fireplace behind the crack by any chance? One big fire could cause it or a chimney fire. If your walls are all plumb all round you shouldnt worry too much. |
Crack on outside wall
You need to get an experienced person to determine the most likely
cause of the crack. From that you will know whether it is an insurance issue, or due to some other parties actions - or if it's down to you. Are we talking about a crack you can fit your hand in? Or just a coin on edge? Is your house a new build? Is it on flat ground? Are there neighbouring properties having similar problems? Are there trees too close to your house? Could there be a leaking drain underground? There's a lot of possible causes, many of which aren't likely to be covered by insurance. |
Crack on outside wall
Gloxx1961 wrote:
Hi hope someone can tell me if I am doing the right thing. Last year my brother noticed a crack on my side wall it was only 3ft in length it just looked like the mortar was crumbling he told me to keep an eye on it. I looked at it again earlier this year (Feb) and I was shocked to find the crack its now over 10ft high and has gone through two small half bricks into the upstairs part of the wall, the initial crack hasn't gone through the damp proof course just gone upwards mostly following the mortar except fot the two half bricks. I have informed insurance company in Febuary but only got a final reply that this crack was due to earthquake movement that happend in 2001/2002 and that I wasn't insured with them at the time and to take it up with insuer that I was. In the mean time the mortar has started to fall out and I am worried that I will be piggy in the middle the bad weather has started and I know the crack will get worse by the time winter has ended. What I have done and probably will have to re-do-it is I have got Duck tape waterproof and some bin bags and went up some ladders and sealed the crack under bags so keep the water and frost out hopefully, I just want to know am I doing the right thing or will I make it worse please help Thank You This should also be apparent inside also, is there one inside? if so you need a surveyor. Cracks will run further and further untill it cant go anywhere else ie a crack in a pane of glass will continue to course through the pane till it reaches the other side of the frame,the only way to stop that crack is to drill a hole in the pane of glass at the immediate end of the crack. -- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite |
Crack on outside wall
"Gloxx1961" wrote:
Hi hope someone can tell me if I am doing the right thing. Last year my brother noticed a crack on my side wall it was only 3ft in length it just looked like the mortar was crumbling he told me to keep an eye on it. I looked at it again earlier this year (Feb) and I was shocked to find the crack its now over 10ft high and has gone through two small half bricks into the upstairs part of the wall, the initial crack hasn't gone through the damp proof course just gone upwards mostly following the mortar except fot the two half bricks. I have informed insurance company in Febuary but only got a final reply that this crack was due to earthquake movement that happend in 2001/2002 and that I wasn't insured with them at the time and to take it up with insuer that I was. In the mean time the mortar has started to fall out and I am worried that I will be piggy in the middle the bad weather has started and I know the crack will get worse by the time winter has ended. What I have done and probably will have to re-do-it is I have got Duck tape waterproof and some bin bags and went up some ladders and sealed the crack under bags so keep the water and frost out hopefully, I just want to know am I doing the right thing or will I make it worse please help Thank You Duck tape and bin bags will not make anything worse. Regarding taking this up with the insurer that you were with in 2001/2002, that sounds like rubbish to me. The crack appeared this year. Ask your insurance company to indicate where in your policy it says that you are not covered for a crack appearing in a wall during your current policy. How can you submit a claim to a previous insurer on a policy that is no longer in force? You need to put in a complaint to your insurance company and if you don't get anywhere go to http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/ Also, uk.legal is a worth a try. You need professional advice for what sounds like heave or subsidence. Your insurance company should arrange this, otherwise you will have to pay a surveyor or structural engineer yourself: http://www.localsurveyorsdirect.co.uk/ |
Crack on outside wall
MikeH wrote: Gloxx1961 wrote: [snip] .... I have informed insurance company in Febuary but only got a final reply that this crack was due to earthquake movement that happend in 2001/2002 and that I wasn't insured with them at the time and to take it up with insuer that I was ...[snip] How the hell do they know that? Can they prove it? If you have a crack that's growing you should get a structural engineer to give you an opinion as to the cause. Mike Thanks for your comments that is the problem I am going to have!! Insurance company sent out loss adjuster who then inturn sent out a structural engineer but he doesn't really know why it happened and has only mention it May have been caused by this earthquake. He completely ruled out subsidance which I was really worried about. |
Crack on outside wall
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Crack on outside wall
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Crack on outside wall
The3rd Earl Of Derby wrote: Gloxx1961 wrote: Hi hope someone can tell me if I am doing the right thing. Last year my brother noticed a crack on my side wall it was only 3ft in length it just looked like the mortar was crumbling he told me to keep an eye on it. I looked at it again earlier this year (Feb) and I was shocked to find the crack its now over 10ft high and has gone through two small half bricks into the upstairs part of the wall, the initial crack hasn't gone through the damp proof course just gone upwards mostly following the mortar except fot the two half bricks. I have informed insurance company in Febuary but only got a final reply that this crack was due to earthquake movement that happend in 2001/2002 and that I wasn't insured with them at the time and to take it up with insuer that I was. In the mean time the mortar has started to fall out and I am worried that I will be piggy in the middle the bad weather has started and I know the crack will get worse by the time winter has ended. What I have done and probably will have to re-do-it is I have got Duck tape waterproof and some bin bags and went up some ladders and sealed the crack under bags so keep the water and frost out hopefully, I just want to know am I doing the right thing or will I make it worse please help Thank You This should also be apparent inside also, is there one inside? if so you need a surveyor. Cracks will run further and further untill it cant go anywhere else ie a crack in a pane of glass will continue to course through the pane till it reaches the other side of the frame,the only way to stop that crack is to drill a hole in the pane of glass at the immediate end of the crack. -- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite Thank you for your comments I do not have any cracks inside where the crack is on the outside. I know what needs to be done but just having to wait to see if insurers will pay out my insurer seems to have passed it on to the previous insurer I have been intouch with them but they just might say its over five years your not insured with us tough!!! |
Crack on outside wall
Phil Anthropist wrote: "Gloxx1961" wrote: Hi hope someone can tell me if I am doing the right thing. Last year my brother noticed a crack on my side wall it was only 3ft in length it just looked like the mortar was crumbling he told me to keep an eye on it. I looked at it again earlier this year (Feb) and I was shocked to find the crack its now over 10ft high and has gone through two small half bricks into the upstairs part of the wall, the initial crack hasn't gone through the damp proof course just gone upwards mostly following the mortar except fot the two half bricks. I have informed insurance company in Febuary but only got a final reply that this crack was due to earthquake movement that happend in 2001/2002 and that I wasn't insured with them at the time and to take it up with insuer that I was. In the mean time the mortar has started to fall out and I am worried that I will be piggy in the middle the bad weather has started and I know the crack will get worse by the time winter has ended. What I have done and probably will have to re-do-it is I have got Duck tape waterproof and some bin bags and went up some ladders and sealed the crack under bags so keep the water and frost out hopefully, I just want to know am I doing the right thing or will I make it worse please help Thank You Duck tape and bin bags will not make anything worse. Regarding taking this up with the insurer that you were with in 2001/2002, that sounds like rubbish to me. The crack appeared this year. Ask your insurance company to indicate where in your policy it says that you are not covered for a crack appearing in a wall during your current policy. How can you submit a claim to a previous insurer on a policy that is no longer in force? You need to put in a complaint to your insurance company and if you don't get anywhere go to http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/ Also, uk.legal is a worth a try. You need professional advice for what sounds like heave or subsidence. Your insurance company should arrange this, otherwise you will have to pay a surveyor or structural engineer yourself: http://www.localsurveyorsdirect.co.uk/ Thank you for your comments I am glad you mentioned about the bin bags and duck tape and yes like you I am thinking on those same lines, why do we pay insurance otherwise!!! and thanks for the legal stuff. The structual engineer who came out through the Loss Adjusters has ruled out subsidence which is what I was worried about. |
Crack on outside wall
It sounds unusual for a house of that age to suddenly develop cracks.
New enough to have substantial foundations, old enough to have done any settling. Most importantly, has the movment stopped? Are you/the engineer accurately monitoring the width of the crack from month to month? Did the engineer suggest the likelihood of further movement? You may need to pay for the services of a local engineer with particular expertise in this sort of thing, rather than the insurance company's. |
Crack on outside wall
Gloxx1961 wrote:
Thanks for your comments that is the problem I am going to have!! Insurance company sent out loss adjuster who then inturn sent out a structural engineer but he doesn't really know why it happened and has only mention it May have been caused by this earthquake. He completely ruled out subsidance which I was really worried about. :-) Earthquake? GB doesn't get earthquakes, its too cold a climate. You mean minor earth tremors. -- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite |
Crack on outside wall
"Gloxx1961" wrote:
Thank you for your comments I am glad you mentioned about the bin bags and duck tape and yes like you I am thinking on those same lines, why do we pay insurance otherwise!!! and thanks for the legal stuff. The structual engineer who came out through the Loss Adjusters has ruled out subsidence which is what I was worried about. I would be suspicious about a report from an insurance-paid structural engineer as they are not independent. As for loss adjustors, their job is to minimise pay-outs and to always decide in favour of the company and not the customer. If they can they will take you to the cleaners. |
Crack on outside wall
"The3rd Earl Of Derby" wrote:
:-) Earthquake? GB doesn't get earthquakes, its too cold a climate. You mean minor earth tremors. -- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite Really? See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2275158.stm (4.8 on the Richter scale). |
Crack on outside wall
Phil Anthropist wrote:
"The3rd Earl Of Derby" wrote: :-) Earthquake? GB doesn't get earthquakes, its too cold a climate. You mean minor earth tremors. -- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite Really? See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2275158.stm (4.8 on the Richter scale). That was not an earthquake,an earthquake is a full blown destructive occurence whereby it Bings down buildings,cause the earth to open up,tidal floods. Like I said earth tremor,nothing more. -- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite |
Crack on outside wall
"The3rd Earl Of Derby" wrote:
That was not an earthquake,an earthquake is a full blown destructive occurence whereby it Bings down buildings,cause the earth to open up,tidal floods. Like I said earth tremor,nothing more. -- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite Complete rubbish. |
Crack on outside wall
Phil Anthropist wrote:
"The3rd Earl Of Derby" wrote: That was not an earthquake,an earthquake is a full blown destructive occurence whereby it Bings down buildings,cause the earth to open up,tidal floods. Like I said earth tremor,nothing more. -- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite Complete rubbish. Its not rubbish,small or huge felt tremors usally precede an earth quake ie a warning sign if you like. We didn't have an earthquake so therefor it was a tremor. -- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite |
Crack on outside wall
Thanks for your comments that is the problem I am going to have!! Insurance company sent out loss adjuster who then inturn sent out a structural engineer but he doesn't really know why it happened and has only mention it May have been caused by this earthquake. He completely ruled out subsidance which I was really worried about. I think you need an independant LOSS ASSESOR as well. Adjusters work for the insurance company to keep their payouts to a minimum. Loss Assesors work for you, for a fee I think, and try to get you as much as possible. Ask Citizens advice if they keep a list. HTH Dave |
Crack on outside wall
Gloxx1961 wrote: I do not have any cracks inside where the crack is on the outside. I know what needs to be done but just having to wait to see if insurers will pay out my insurer seems to have passed it on to the previous insurer I have been intouch with them but they just might say its over five years your not insured with us tough!!! I cant see what the insurance company can do about a crack in a wall anyway. If the crack widens to the extent that the house needs a new wall that is a different matter and there would be serious costs in that. But a crack in a wall is very common and not to be alarmed about unless it is progressive and threatening to fall apart. Again as I said you should look at the alignment of the walls and see if there is any movement there or any other crack in the joining walls that you didnt notice before. It may just be bad building work in that wall that caused the crack. It doesnt appear on the inside wall so thats good news. That crack may have been in the wall for many years but the outside mortar may have recently come away to reveal it. No need to pay an engineer to tell you something so obvious when you have all the free advice you need here. get us a few pics of it and we can advise for free. for now you should fill it anyway as I already advised and monitor it for any development. Remember that there are cracks in most houses and sometimes even new houses. |
Crack on outside wall
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Crack on outside wall
In message , The3rd
Earl Of Derby writes Gloxx1961 wrote: Thanks for your comments that is the problem I am going to have!! Insurance company sent out loss adjuster who then inturn sent out a structural engineer but he doesn't really know why it happened and has only mention it May have been caused by this earthquake. He completely ruled out subsidance which I was really worried about. :-) Earthquake? GB doesn't get earthquakes, its too cold a climate. You mean minor earth tremors. WTF does climate have to do with earthquakes ? -- geoff |
Crack on outside wall
In message , The3rd
Earl Of Derby writes Phil Anthropist wrote: "The3rd Earl Of Derby" wrote: That was not an earthquake,an earthquake is a full blown destructive occurence whereby it Bings down buildings,cause the earth to open up,tidal floods. Like I said earth tremor,nothing more. -- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite Complete rubbish. Its not rubbish,small or huge felt tremors usally precede an earth quake ie a warning sign if you like. We didn't have an earthquake so therefor it was a tremor. Earthquakes occur at plate boundaries - places like Sumatra / Java, San Andreas in California which are active ATM just happen to be where it's warm, but Iceland has them too -- geoff |
Crack on outside wall
raden wrote: WTF does climate have to do with earthquakes ? Everything. To the OP: As it happens, the insurance company need to be cajoled into doing what they were paid to do. Letting them bog one down in prevaricative and ignorant remarks, is only digging one's self in deeper **** with the *******s. They have a duty to live up to and you need to know who put out that false remark in order to follow up their criminal neglect at their head office. If they refuse to tell you how they jumped to that conclusion without prior knowledge they aught to have warned you about years ago, then they are in the **** themselves. Not that that will help you if you are with a bogus insurance company. Call in the local papers and Watchdog. Throw bigger **** right back at the arseholes. Stop them farting on your castle. Rip the *******s a new one. The engineer should never have added any suppositions in his report. You might have a small case against him in that if things go wrong. http://dictionary.reference.com/sear...varicative&r=5 In the meantime the crack is going to work its way up to the eaves and the house will then be being held up by the roof and by gravity. The insurance people will do everything they can to get out of their predicament and sending in a loss adjuster was just the start of it. Think what the term loss adjuster means. They are slime eating hitmen. Get your own experts in future. You should have insisted on an impartial expert witness. You might be able to live with putting lintles in every so often to bridge the gap and rebuilding the brickwork above each stage but the house needs underpinning by the sound of it. |
Crack on outside wall
In message .com,
Weatherlawyer writes raden wrote: WTF does climate have to do with earthquakes ? Everything. Please explain ... -- geoff |
Crack on outside wall
In message , raden
writes In message .com, Weatherlawyer writes raden wrote: WTF does climate have to do with earthquakes ? Everything. Please explain ... Funny how they seem to occur from the north pole to the south pole http://projects.crustal.ucsb.edu/und...obe/globe.html strange that ... -- geoff |
Crack on outside wall
raden wrote: Funny how they seem to occur from the north pole to the south pole http://projects.crustal.ucsb.edu/und...obe/globe.html strange that ... And always at or near the surface too. But what has that to do with the weather? This present wet spell will end at about the same time that a large magnitude earthquake strikes in one of the places you mentioned. Keep your abuse to yourself until then. |
Crack on outside wall
In message om,
Weatherlawyer writes raden wrote: Funny how they seem to occur from the north pole to the south pole http://projects.crustal.ucsb.edu/und...obe/globe.html strange that ... And always at or near the surface too. But what has that to do with the weather? I was replying to "Earthquake? GB doesn't get earthquakes, its too cold a climate. " -- geoff |
Crack on outside wall
The message
from raden contains these words: WTF does climate have to do with earthquakes ? Everything. Please explain ... He's not completely barking. The hydrology of an area can have considerable impact on earthquakes - they're more common after heavy rain, for example. On a larger scale, Scotland is still going up and Kent going down as a result of the disappearance of the ice sheet ten thousand years ago. The removal of the overburden of ice has had enormous geologial impact and will continue to do so as the ice retreats. -- Skipweasel Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. |
Crack on outside wall
The message
from raden contains these words: Funny how they seem to occur from the north pole to the south pole Have you noticed how the continents all look like blobs of custard splotted onto the globe and allowed to run down? It's Continental Drip. -- Skipweasel Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. |
Crack on outside wall
Think what the term loss adjuster means. They are slime eating hitmen. Get your own experts in future. You should have insisted on an impartial expert witness. Thats why I told the OP to try to get hold of an independant Loss Asssesor. Dave |
Crack on outside wall
raden wrote: I was replying to "Earthquake? GB doesn't get earthquakes, its too cold a climate. " Colder than Alaska? |
Crack on outside wall
Weatherlawyer wrote:
raden wrote: I was replying to "Earthquake? GB doesn't get earthquakes, its too cold a climate. " Colder than Alaska? I was told by a loss adjuster that nowadays the insurance company definition of "crack" is something you can get your fist into. You are right to have reported it to them, but I would now leave the ball in their court. Since that mid 70s drought they have been reluctant to underpin and, in the end, it's their decision and not yours. |
Crack on outside wall
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Stuart Noble saying something like: I was told by a loss adjuster that nowadays the insurance company definition of "crack" is something you can get your fist into. " " -- Dave |
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