Hi there,

Thinking about buying a house, you can view it here

http://preview.tinyurl.com/358pmto

Please zoom in to the the top of the window above the front door, you
can see that the brickwork has moved. The house originally has brick
arch lintels this particular lintel has at some point been removed and
it is now no longer a brick-arch, rather, the lintel is now made up of
bricks laid horizonatally - you can just about make this out on the
picture - and there is a poxy strip of thin metal underneath the
bricks, - it might be a proper lintel - one of those modern ones with
the structure of the lintel hidden behind a facade of bricks.

On this brick faced lintel on the right hand end you can just see in
the picture there is a crack there through the bricks. On the left
hand side there is a substantial amount of movement of the top 5 or 6
courses of bricks they stick out into the window by about 12 - 15mm
The window/wall also looks twisted on the left hand side

Underneath this window (not visible on the picture) there is a fine
crack running from the right hand side of the red windowsill into the
centre of the brick arch above the front door, with the crack running
through the brick arch itself

In addition on the gable end (rendered) on the end where the front
door is there are some other fine cracks where windows are and also a
larger crack (4mm) at the point a single storey extension joins to the
main house.

I will try to get some proper close up photos of all the crack to show
here later.

Questions:
1. Would the whole of the brick work on the left hand side have to be
pulled down and re-set?
2. Could I replace it with a proper brick arch lintel?
3. What does one do about a crack in the render between the ground
floor extension and the main house?

4. How much would 1 & 2 cost when done by a good builder?

Thanks

On Jun 17, 10:46*pm, freepo wrote:
Hi there,

Thinking about buying a house, you can view it here

http://preview.tinyurl.com/358pmto

Please zoom in to the the top of the window above the front door, you
can see that the brickwork has moved. * The house originally has brick
arch lintels this particular lintel has at some point been removed and
it is now no longer a brick-arch, rather, the lintel is now made up of
bricks laid horizonatally - you can just about make this out on the
picture - *and there is a poxy strip of thin metal underneath the
bricks, - it might be a proper lintel - one of those modern ones with
the structure of the lintel hidden behind a facade of bricks.

On this brick faced lintel on the right hand end you can just see in
the picture there is a crack there through the bricks. *On the left
hand side there is a substantial amount of movement of the top 5 or 6
courses of bricks they stick out into the window by about 12 - 15mm
The window/wall also looks twisted on the left hand side

Underneath this window (not visible on the picture) there is a fine
crack running from the right hand side of the red windowsill into the
centre of the brick arch above the front door, with the crack running
through the brick arch itself

In addition on the gable end (rendered) on the end where the front
door is *there are some other fine cracks where windows are and also a
larger crack (4mm) at the point a single storey extension joins to the
main house.

I will try to get some proper close up photos of all the crack to show
here later.

the pic doesnt show the cracks at all. So generally...

Questions:
1. Would the whole of the brick work on the left hand side have to be
pulled down and re-set?

1/2" of movement shuold not require any rebuilding

2. Could I replace it with a proper brick arch lintel?

if you mean the lintel over the door, normally yes no problem.

3. What does one do about a crack in the render between the ground
floor extension and the main house?

fill it to keep expanding ice out

4. How much would 1 & 2 cost when done by a good builder?

Thanks


The big problem with this house will be cost of insurance. Be sure to
get quotes before offering - and you will likely need a specialist
insurer.


NT

On 17 June, 23:10, NT wrote:
On Jun 17, 10:46 pm, freepo wrote:



Hi there,

Thinking about buying a house, you can view it here

http://preview.tinyurl.com/358pmto

Please zoom in to the the top of the window above the front door, you
can see that the brickwork has moved. The house originally has brick
arch lintels this particular lintel has at some point been removed and
it is now no longer a brick-arch, rather, the lintel is now made up of
bricks laid horizonatally - you can just about make this out on the
picture - and there is a poxy strip of thin metal underneath the
bricks, - it might be a proper lintel - one of those modern ones with
the structure of the lintel hidden behind a facade of bricks.

On this brick faced lintel on the right hand end you can just see in
the picture there is a crack there through the bricks. On the left
hand side there is a substantial amount of movement of the top 5 or 6
courses of bricks they stick out into the window by about 12 - 15mm
The window/wall also looks twisted on the left hand side

Underneath this window (not visible on the picture) there is a fine
crack running from the right hand side of the red windowsill into the
centre of the brick arch above the front door, with the crack running
through the brick arch itself

In addition on the gable end (rendered) on the end where the front
door is there are some other fine cracks where windows are and also a
larger crack (4mm) at the point a single storey extension joins to the
main house.

I will try to get some proper close up photos of all the crack to show
here later.

the pic doesnt show the cracks at all. So generally...

Questions:
1. Would the whole of the brick work on the left hand side have to be
pulled down and re-set?

1/2" of movement shuold not require any rebuilding

2. Could I replace it with a proper brick arch lintel?

if you mean the lintel over the door, normally yes no problem.

3. What does one do about a crack in the render between the ground
floor extension and the main house?

fill it to keep expanding ice out

4. How much would 1 & 2 cost when done by a good builder?

Thanks

The big problem with this house will be cost of insurance. Be sure to
get quotes before offering - and you will likely need a specialist
insurer.

NT

Hi,

No, I meant replace the lintel over the top window where the brick
arch has been removed.

And the centre of the brick arch above the front door has opened/
dropped in the middle slightly, what is to be done? Fill the bottom of
the gap with slate?

I will have to get some better pics to try to show the cracks.
Hopefully I'll have them up here on Saturday

It always worries me when I see cracks on a house I want to buy. I
haven't had any experience in dealing with them before.

Thanks for the insurance tip, how does one ask the insurance to quote?
Tell them about the dropped lintels and cracks?

On Jun 17, 11:27*pm, freepo wrote:
On 17 June, 23:10, NT wrote:



On Jun 17, 10:46 pm, freepo wrote:

Hi there,

Thinking about buying a house, you can view it here

http://preview.tinyurl.com/358pmto

Please zoom in to the the top of the window above the front door, you
can see that the brickwork has moved. * The house originally has brick
arch lintels this particular lintel has at some point been removed and
it is now no longer a brick-arch, rather, the lintel is now made up of
bricks laid horizonatally - you can just about make this out on the
picture - *and there is a poxy strip of thin metal underneath the
bricks, - it might be a proper lintel - one of those modern ones with
the structure of the lintel hidden behind a facade of bricks.

On this brick faced lintel on the right hand end you can just see in
the picture there is a crack there through the bricks. *On the left
hand side there is a substantial amount of movement of the top 5 or 6
courses of bricks they stick out into the window by about 12 - 15mm
The window/wall also looks twisted on the left hand side

Underneath this window (not visible on the picture) there is a fine
crack running from the right hand side of the red windowsill into the
centre of the brick arch above the front door, with the crack running
through the brick arch itself

In addition on the gable end (rendered) on the end where the front
door is *there are some other fine cracks where windows are and also a
larger crack (4mm) at the point a single storey extension joins to the
main house.

I will try to get some proper close up photos of all the crack to show
here later.

the pic doesnt show the cracks at all. So generally...

Questions:
1. Would the whole of the brick work on the left hand side have to be
pulled down and re-set?

1/2" of movement shuold not require any rebuilding

2. Could I replace it with a proper brick arch lintel?

if you mean the lintel over the door, normally yes no problem.

3. What does one do about a crack in the render between the ground
floor extension and the main house?

fill it to keep expanding ice out

4. How much would 1 & 2 cost when done by a good builder?

Thanks

The big problem with this house will be cost of insurance. Be sure to
get quotes before offering - and you will likely need a specialist
insurer.

NT

Hi,

No, I meant replace the lintel over the top window where the brick
arch has been removed.

IIUC you've now got bricks there and a strip of metal under them. Why
then do you want to do work there?


And the centre of the brick arch above the front door has opened/
dropped in the middle slightly, what is to be done? Fill the bottom of
the gap with slate?

fill the gap wth mortar. If you need to rake any out, support the arch
first, as removal of mortar could possibly cause it to fall otherwise.
For a visually better result, take the dropped part of the arch out,
propping the rest, clean the bricks and mortar them back in. Do use
the right type of mortar for the age of the bricks.


I will have to get some better pics to try to show the cracks.
Hopefully I'll have them up here on Saturday

It always worries me when I see cracks on a house I want to buy. *I
haven't had any experience in dealing with them before.

Thanks for the insurance tip, how does one ask the insurance to quote?
Tell them about the dropped lintels and cracks?

Yes, and they'll want to know history too re any monitoring, claims,
work done etc. If you dont disclose this any policy will likely be
invalid.


NT

On 18 June, 01:40, NT wrote:
On Jun 17, 11:27 pm, freepo wrote:



On 17 June, 23:10, NT wrote:

On Jun 17, 10:46 pm, freepo wrote:

Hi there,

Thinking about buying a house, you can view it here

http://preview.tinyurl.com/358pmto

Please zoom in to the the top of the window above the front door, you
can see that the brickwork has moved. The house originally has brick
arch lintels this particular lintel has at some point been removed and
it is now no longer a brick-arch, rather, the lintel is now made up of
bricks laid horizonatally - you can just about make this out on the
picture - and there is a poxy strip of thin metal underneath the
bricks, - it might be a proper lintel - one of those modern ones with
the structure of the lintel hidden behind a facade of bricks.

On this brick faced lintel on the right hand end you can just see in
the picture there is a crack there through the bricks. On the left
hand side there is a substantial amount of movement of the top 5 or 6
courses of bricks they stick out into the window by about 12 - 15mm
The window/wall also looks twisted on the left hand side

Underneath this window (not visible on the picture) there is a fine
crack running from the right hand side of the red windowsill into the
centre of the brick arch above the front door, with the crack running
through the brick arch itself

In addition on the gable end (rendered) on the end where the front
door is there are some other fine cracks where windows are and also a
larger crack (4mm) at the point a single storey extension joins to the
main house.

I will try to get some proper close up photos of all the crack to show
here later.

the pic doesnt show the cracks at all. So generally...

Questions:
1. Would the whole of the brick work on the left hand side have to be
pulled down and re-set?

1/2" of movement shuold not require any rebuilding

2. Could I replace it with a proper brick arch lintel?

if you mean the lintel over the door, normally yes no problem.

3. What does one do about a crack in the render between the ground
floor extension and the main house?

fill it to keep expanding ice out

4. How much would 1 & 2 cost when done by a good builder?

Thanks

The big problem with this house will be cost of insurance. Be sure to
get quotes before offering - and you will likely need a specialist
insurer.

NT

Hi,

No, I meant replace the lintel over the top window where the brick
arch has been removed.

IIUC you've now got bricks there and a strip of metal under them. Why
then do you want to do work there?


Because of the crack on the right hand side of this lintel (which is
just about visible on the picture when you zoom in) And because of
the movement in the column of bricks on the left hand side where the
wall appears to be pushed out at the top (not really visible in the
pic) and there is a 15mm step in the brickwork (shown in the picture)

And to restore the house to it's original brick arches which look more
attractive than horizontally laid bricks.

Thanks

On Jun 18, 7:47*am, freepo wrote:
On 18 June, 01:40, NT wrote:



On Jun 17, 11:27 pm, freepo wrote:

On 17 June, 23:10, NT wrote:

On Jun 17, 10:46 pm, freepo wrote:

Hi there,

Thinking about buying a house, you can view it here

http://preview.tinyurl.com/358pmto

Please zoom in to the the top of the window above the front door, you
can see that the brickwork has moved. * The house originally has brick
arch lintels this particular lintel has at some point been removed and
it is now no longer a brick-arch, rather, the lintel is now made up of
bricks laid horizonatally - you can just about make this out on the
picture - *and there is a poxy strip of thin metal underneath the
bricks, - it might be a proper lintel - one of those modern ones with
the structure of the lintel hidden behind a facade of bricks.

On this brick faced lintel on the right hand end you can just see in
the picture there is a crack there through the bricks. *On the left
hand side there is a substantial amount of movement of the top 5 or 6
courses of bricks they stick out into the window by about 12 - 15mm
The window/wall also looks twisted on the left hand side

Underneath this window (not visible on the picture) there is a fine
crack running from the right hand side of the red windowsill into the
centre of the brick arch above the front door, with the crack running
through the brick arch itself

In addition on the gable end (rendered) on the end where the front
door is *there are some other fine cracks where windows are and also a
larger crack (4mm) at the point a single storey extension joins to the
main house.

I will try to get some proper close up photos of all the crack to show
here later.

the pic doesnt show the cracks at all. So generally...

Questions:
1. Would the whole of the brick work on the left hand side have to be
pulled down and re-set?

1/2" of movement shuold not require any rebuilding

2. Could I replace it with a proper brick arch lintel?

if you mean the lintel over the door, normally yes no problem.

3. What does one do about a crack in the render between the ground
floor extension and the main house?

fill it to keep expanding ice out

4. How much would 1 & 2 cost when done by a good builder?

Thanks

The big problem with this house will be cost of insurance. Be sure to
get quotes before offering - and you will likely need a specialist
insurer.

NT

Hi,

No, I meant replace the lintel over the top window where the brick
arch has been removed.

IIUC you've now got bricks there and a strip of metal under them. Why
then do you want to do work there?

Because of the crack on the right hand side of this lintel *(which is
just about visible on the picture when you zoom in) *And because of
the movement in the column of bricks on the left hand side where the
wall appears to be pushed out at the top (not really visible in the
pic) and there is a 15mm step in the brickwork (shown in the picture)

And to restore the house to it's original brick arches which look more
attractive than horizontally laid bricks.

Thanks

Its hard to say much without seeing the crack, I didn't see anything
clear on the google pic. Arches do turn a downward force into a
sideways spreading force, and shallow arches gear this force up
considerably.


NT

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:46:37 -0700 (PDT), freepo
wrote:
Hi there,

Thinking about buying a house, you can view it here

http://preview.tinyurl.com/358pmto

Please zoom in to the the top of the window above the front door, you
can see that the brickwork has moved. The house originally has brick
arch lintels this particular lintel has at some point been removed and
it is now no longer a brick-arch, rather, the lintel is now made up of
bricks laid horizonatally - you can just about make this out on the
picture - and there is a poxy strip of thin metal underneath the
bricks, - it might be a proper lintel - one of those modern ones with
the structure of the lintel hidden behind a facade of bricks.

On this brick faced lintel on the right hand end you can just see in
the picture there is a crack there through the bricks. On the left
hand side there is a substantial amount of movement of the top 5 or 6
courses of bricks they stick out into the window by about 12 - 15mm
The window/wall also looks twisted on the left hand side

Underneath this window (not visible on the picture) there is a fine
crack running from the right hand side of the red windowsill into the
centre of the brick arch above the front door, with the crack running
through the brick arch itself

In addition on the gable end (rendered) on the end where the front
door is there are some other fine cracks where windows are and also a
larger crack (4mm) at the point a single storey extension joins to the
main house.

I will try to get some proper close up photos of all the crack to show
here later.

Questions:
1. Would the whole of the brick work on the left hand side have to be
pulled down and re-set?
2. Could I replace it with a proper brick arch lintel?
3. What does one do about a crack in the render between the ground
floor extension and the main house?

4. How much would 1 & 2 cost when done by a good builder?


I can see that you want to do this on the cheap, but there is really
no substitute for employing a structural engineer. If there is to be
a mortgage on the property, the lender's surveyor/valuer is almost
certain to demand a structural survey in any case.

Although I am qualified to carry out such a survey, it is not possible
give an opinion based on photographs. There is no substitute for a
proper site survey. What might appear to be a minor problem can be
hiding something more serious.

If you phone around, you may be able to engage a local structural
engineer or technician who will meet you on site and give you some
informal non-binding indication of whether the problem is likely to be
serious (expensive) enough to avoid making an offer for the property.
If you can fit in a meeting around their work schedule you may be
pleasantly surprised by their price. Depending on their opinion, you
can then decide whether to commission a full survey yourself or rely
on that done for your mortgage lender - obviously you don't want to
end up paying twice.

It looks an attractive property and I hope that you will find that the
problems are not serious. Good luck!

freepo wrote:

Hi there,

Thinking about buying a house, you can view it here


Quite honestly unless you are*getting that house _considerably_ cheaper then
comparable*ones in*the area i would walk away,
you may find getting a mortgage on it problematic*as the lender will want a
full structural survey (if they will lend at all) and will withhold cost of
any remedial work needed, which could run into thousands, as it looks like
the flank wall has moved.
P.S*the advice you get on here is only worth what you have paid for it,
particularly if it's from NT.*
\0

On Jun 18, 10:45*pm, Mark wrote:
freepo wrote:
Hi there,

Thinking about buying a house, you can view it here

Quite honestly unless you are*getting that house _considerably_ cheaper then
comparable*ones in*the area i would walk away,
you may find getting a mortgage on it problematic*as the lender will want a
full structural survey (if they will lend at all) and will withhold cost of
any remedial work needed, which could run into thousands, as it looks like
the flank wall has moved.

Good chance the insurer isn't going to know what remedial work is
needed, as it seems the OP doesn't have long term monitoring data to
determine the stability or otherwise of the situation. I asume the OP
realises that normally the insurer will not pay for remedial work for
a preexisting condition, nor ditto if it continues to deteriorate.


P.S*the advice you get on here is only worth what you have paid for it,
particularly if it's from NT.*

Factual info could be more useful. Youre right about one thing, the
price would need to be significantly reduced by the structural issue
for it to be a good deal.


NT