Hi,
I have a small crack, 1-2mm wide, running through the concrete block and
render wall of my 10 year old garage from floor to roof. It is about a
blocks width in from one corner, the garage is built on a substantial
concrete base, which appears to be intact, about 12m X 4m. I first
noticed it about a year ago and it doesn't appear to have increased in
width over that time.
I can only think at the moment that the end wall has moved a fraction
away from the side wall, no idea why though.

To check for movement I am thinking of fixing a couple of glass
microscope slides across the crack to see if they fail, I seem to recall
that this is a standard check.

Has any one tried this or got a better idea? I was thinking of using
epoxy resin to fix the slides, good / bad idea??

My other thought was to get Sarah Beeny in to advise, but the thought of
her checking out my crack was too much to bear.
--
Bill

Bill wrote:
To check for movement I am thinking of fixing a couple of glass
microscope slides across the crack to see if they fail, I seem to recall
that this is a standard check.

Has any one tried this or got a better idea? I was thinking of using
epoxy resin to fix the slides, good / bad idea??

A couple of dabs of mortar is the old fashioned way. If it falls off
after a day or so, you've either not got a good bond in the first place,
or it's moving fast enough to worry about. You can also get 2 part
movement detectors that you stick across the crack which will tell you
how much the wall is moving.


--
Tciao for Now!

John.

"Bill" wrote in message
...
Hi,
I have a small crack, 1-2mm wide, running through the concrete block and
render wall of my 10 year old garage from floor to roof. It is about a
blocks width in from one corner, the garage is built on a substantial
concrete base, which appears to be intact, about 12m X 4m. I first
noticed it about a year ago and it doesn't appear to have increased in
width over that time.
I can only think at the moment that the end wall has moved a fraction away
from the side wall, no idea why though.

To check for movement I am thinking of fixing a couple of glass microscope
slides across the crack to see if they fail, I seem to recall that this is
a standard check.

Has any one tried this or got a better idea? I was thinking of using
epoxy resin to fix the slides, good / bad idea??

My other thought was to get Sarah Beeny in to advise, but the thought of
her checking out my crack was too much to bear.

You could DIY with http://www.sccssurvey.co.uk/product/show/181
--
Bill

On Jul 24, 8:53*pm, Bill wrote:
Hi,
I have a small crack, 1-2mm wide, running through the concrete block and
render wall of my 10 year old garage from floor to roof. It is about a
blocks width in from one corner, the garage is built on a substantial
concrete base, which appears to be intact, about 12m X 4m. *I first
noticed it about a year ago and it doesn't appear to have increased in
width over that time.
I can only think at the moment that the end wall has moved a fraction
away from the side wall, no idea why though.

To check for movement I am thinking of fixing a couple of glass
microscope slides across the crack to see if they fail, I seem to recall
that this is a standard check.

Has any one tried this or got a better idea? *I was thinking of using
epoxy resin to fix the slides, good / bad idea??

My other thought was to get Sarah Beeny in to advise, but the thought of
her checking out my crack was too much to bear.

Just fill the crack, if it re-moves you'll get a new crack, and you'll
be able to see how far its moving in what direction.


NT

On Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:42:51 -0700 (PDT), NT wrote:

Just fill the crack, if it re-moves you'll get a new crack, and you'll
be able to see how far its moving in what direction.

How do you get direction? All that filled crack opening will tell you
is how far the two sides have moved relative to each other. One side
of the fill failing only says that fill/wall bond on that side of the
crack was weaker than the fill/wall bond on the other.

I guess it might reopen from one end in which case you know there is
more movement at that end but not much more.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Jul 25, 10:34*am, "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:
On Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:42:51 -0700 (PDT), NT wrote:
Just fill the crack, if it re-moves you'll get a new crack, and you'll
be able to see how far its moving in what direction.

How do you get direction? All that filled crack opening will tell you
is how far the two sides have moved relative to each other. One side
of the fill failing only says that fill/wall bond on that side of the
crack was weaker than the fill/wall bond on the other.

I guess it might reopen from one end in which case you know there is
more movement at that end but not much more.

Masonry cracks are always ragged edged, just look close up and its
fairly obvious which dircetion the 2 bits of masonry have gone in
relative to each other


NT

On Jul 25, 10:34 am, "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:
On Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:42:51 -0700 (PDT), NT wrote:
Just fill the crack, if it re-moves you'll get a new crack, and you'll
be able to see how far its moving in what direction.

How do you get direction? All that filled crack opening will tell you
is how far the two sides have moved relative to each other. One side
of the fill failing only says that fill/wall bond on that side of the
crack was weaker than the fill/wall bond on the other.

?? as it's at the end wall, could one assume any movement will be that
end wall moving "out" rather than the rest of the garage moving "in"?

NB Could someone have "nudged" the wall with a motor/quad/tracler?

Jim K

In message
, Jim
K writes
On Jul 25, 10:34 am, "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:
On Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:42:51 -0700 (PDT), NT wrote:
Just fill the crack, if it re-moves you'll get a new crack, and you'll
be able to see how far its moving in what direction.

How do you get direction? All that filled crack opening will tell you
is how far the two sides have moved relative to each other. One side
of the fill failing only says that fill/wall bond on that side of the
crack was weaker than the fill/wall bond on the other.

?? as it's at the end wall, could one assume any movement will be that
end wall moving "out" rather than the rest of the garage moving "in"?

NB Could someone have "nudged" the wall with a motor/quad/tracler?

Jim K


I'm assuming that the end wall has moved a fraction outwards, no obvious
signs of damage on the end wall, just the crack on the side wall, but
almost in line with the inside edge of the end one. No signs of damage
to the concrete base.

There is no chance it could have been nudged, there is only a small
gated path beside it and I am the only one to use it.

Thanks for all the thoughts and ideas,
http://www.sccssurvey.co.uk/product/show/181 look interesting.

I have a feeling that it hasn't moved for a while, but would like to be
sure. I will be filling it with something before the winter.


--
Bill