It has been suggested to me that it would be possible to replace this
stone lintel with steel or pre-stressed concrete for a 'reasonable sum'
but I am also keen to preserve the symmetry of the building and thus
retain the twiddly bits either side, etc. I imagine that reproducing
said artistic artifacts (if necessary) would be excessively costly(?)

I (for whom this sort of stuff is a whole new adventure) can't even tell
which parts are structural and which purely decorative or indeed how
they fit together. Although, obviously, I don't intend to carry out any
of this work myself I am very keen to learn about the process and
materials, etc.

The damage, which clearly includes the sill has almost certainly been
caused by the removal of a large nearby tree many years ago - the rest
of this very thick stone walled mid-Victorian period (non-listed)
building appears robust and stable.

How would you approach this repair job?

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...OPEN/crack.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...rackdetail.JPG

All comments gratefully received!

IJM

On Saturday, 21 May 2016 14:44:36 UTC+1, profIJM wrote:
The external part looks purely decorative.

Are you suggesting that the damage is caused by ground movement or by
impact during the felling of the tree?

The cracks could be cleaned out very thoroughly and then when totally
dry repaired with epoxy resin putty which is available for building
repairs.

John

On Saturday, 21 May 2016 14:44:36 UTC+1, profIJM wrote:
It has been suggested to me that it would be possible to replace this
stone lintel with steel or pre-stressed concrete for a 'reasonable sum'
but I am also keen to preserve the symmetry of the building and thus
retain the twiddly bits either side, etc. I imagine that reproducing
said artistic artifacts (if necessary) would be excessively costly(?)

I (for whom this sort of stuff is a whole new adventure) can't even tell
which parts are structural and which purely decorative or indeed how
they fit together. Although, obviously, I don't intend to carry out any
of this work myself I am very keen to learn about the process and
materials, etc.

The damage, which clearly includes the sill has almost certainly been
caused by the removal of a large nearby tree many years ago - the rest
of this very thick stone walled mid-Victorian period (non-listed)
building appears robust and stable.

How would you approach this repair job?

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...OPEN/crack.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...rackdetail.JPG

All comments gratefully received!

IJM

Replacing either or both of these would be extremely expensive in stone.
It could be done by casting cill and lintel in situ in much thicker concrete with reinforcing steel.(But cheap as a DIY project.)
Victorian builders never realised that the cill carries massive loading but the lintel much less.

The reason it has failed is the building has subsided in the past.
Maybe the removed tree's roots have rotted away leaving voids.

The thing is to find out if the building is still moving.
This is done by gluing strips of glass across the cracks.
(You will have to scrape the paint off to get good adhesion.)
If they break, it's still moving and you have a big problem.
The cracks will get worse and something may even fall down eventually.
You will have to take advice from a structural engineer, the building may need underpinning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underpinning

You need to maintain the symmetry/appearance of this sort of building or it will have a major effect on the value.

On Saturday, 21 May 2016 14:44:36 UTC+1, profIJM wrote:

It has been suggested to me that it would be possible to replace this
stone lintel with steel or pre-stressed concrete for a 'reasonable sum'
but I am also keen to preserve the symmetry of the building and thus
retain the twiddly bits either side, etc. I imagine that reproducing
said artistic artifacts (if necessary) would be excessively costly(?)

I (for whom this sort of stuff is a whole new adventure) can't even tell
which parts are structural and which purely decorative or indeed how
they fit together. Although, obviously, I don't intend to carry out any
of this work myself I am very keen to learn about the process and
materials, etc.

The damage, which clearly includes the sill has almost certainly been
caused by the removal of a large nearby tree many years ago - the rest
of this very thick stone walled mid-Victorian period (non-listed)
building appears robust and stable.

How would you approach this repair job?

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...OPEN/crack.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...rackdetail.JPG

All comments gratefully received!

IJM

A bit of filler. This kind of damage is common on old houses. The 2 halves of the lintel are both cantilevered at their outer ends, and aren't about to go anywhere. I'm sure folk will be happy to take your money though.


NT

profIJM Wrote in message:
It has been suggested to me that it would be possible to replace this
stone lintel with steel or pre-stressed concrete for a 'reasonable sum'
but I am also keen to preserve the symmetry of the building and thus
retain the twiddly bits either side, etc. I imagine that reproducing
said artistic artifacts (if necessary) would be excessively costly(?)

I (for whom this sort of stuff is a whole new adventure) can't even tell
which parts are structural and which purely decorative or indeed how
they fit together. Although, obviously, I don't intend to carry out any
of this work myself I am very keen to learn about the process and
materials, etc.

The damage, which clearly includes the sill has almost certainly been
caused by the removal of a large nearby tree many years ago - the rest
of this very thick stone walled mid-Victorian period (non-listed)
building appears robust and stable.

How would you approach this repair job?

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...OPEN/crack.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...rackdetail.JPG

All comments gratefully received!

IJM



Get at least 3 quotes and ring the insurance Co.?

--
Jim K


----Android NewsGroup Reader----
http://usenet.sinaapp.com/

On 5/21/2016 4:05 PM, harry wrote:
On Saturday, 21 May 2016 14:44:36 UTC+1, profIJM wrote:
It has been suggested to me that it would be possible to replace this
stone lintel with steel or pre-stressed concrete for a 'reasonable sum'
but I am also keen to preserve the symmetry of the building and thus
retain the twiddly bits either side, etc. I imagine that reproducing
said artistic artifacts (if necessary) would be excessively costly(?)

I (for whom this sort of stuff is a whole new adventure) can't even tell
which parts are structural and which purely decorative or indeed how
they fit together. Although, obviously, I don't intend to carry out any
of this work myself I am very keen to learn about the process and
materials, etc.

The damage, which clearly includes the sill has almost certainly been
caused by the removal of a large nearby tree many years ago - the rest
of this very thick stone walled mid-Victorian period (non-listed)
building appears robust and stable.

How would you approach this repair job?

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...OPEN/crack.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...rackdetail.JPG

All comments gratefully received!

IJM

Replacing either or both of these would be extremely expensive in stone.
It could be done by casting cill and lintel in situ in much thicker concrete with reinforcing steel.(But cheap as a DIY project.)
Victorian builders never realised that the cill carries massive loading but the lintel much less.

The reason it has failed is the building has subsided in the past.
Maybe the removed tree's roots have rotted away leaving voids.

The thing is to find out if the building is still moving.
This is done by gluing strips of glass across the cracks.
(You will have to scrape the paint off to get good adhesion.)
If they break, it's still moving and you have a big problem.
The cracks will get worse and something may even fall down eventually.
You will have to take advice from a structural engineer, the building may need underpinning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underpinning


+1.

If it's not moving significantly then a near invisible repair is not too
difficult.

wrote:
On Saturday, 21 May 2016 14:44:36 UTC+1, profIJM wrote:

It has been suggested to me that it would be possible to replace this
stone lintel with steel or pre-stressed concrete for a 'reasonable
sum' but I am also keen to preserve the symmetry of the building and
thus retain the twiddly bits either side, etc. I imagine that
reproducing said artistic artifacts (if necessary) would be
excessively costly(?)

I (for whom this sort of stuff is a whole new adventure) can't even
tell which parts are structural and which purely decorative or
indeed how they fit together. Although, obviously, I don't intend
to carry out any of this work myself I am very keen to learn about
the process and materials, etc.

The damage, which clearly includes the sill has almost certainly been
caused by the removal of a large nearby tree many years ago - the
rest of this very thick stone walled mid-Victorian period
(non-listed) building appears robust and stable.

How would you approach this repair job?

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...OPEN/crack.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...rackdetail.JPG

All comments gratefully received!

IJM

A bit of filler. This kind of damage is common on old houses. The 2
halves of the lintel are both cantilevered at their outer ends, and
aren't about to go anywhere. I'm sure folk will be happy to take your
money though.


What he said.

Don't waste money and make a mess of this, it isn't required. The lintel is
still holding up everything above it as it's still locked together because
the crack is uneven - it can't fall down without pushing the ends of itself
out sideways, and this ain't never gonna happen.

Get some exterior filler and paint like everyone else who's lived there has
done for the past 60 odd years

On 21/05/2016 15:29, jim wrote:
profIJM Wrote in message:
It has been suggested to me that it would be possible to replace this
stone lintel with steel or pre-stressed concrete for a 'reasonable sum'
but I am also keen to preserve the symmetry of the building and thus
retain the twiddly bits either side, etc. I imagine that reproducing
said artistic artifacts (if necessary) would be excessively costly(?)

I (for whom this sort of stuff is a whole new adventure) can't even tell
which parts are structural and which purely decorative or indeed how
they fit together. Although, obviously, I don't intend to carry out any
of this work myself I am very keen to learn about the process and
materials, etc.

The damage, which clearly includes the sill has almost certainly been
caused by the removal of a large nearby tree many years ago - the rest
of this very thick stone walled mid-Victorian period (non-listed)
building appears robust and stable.

How would you approach this repair job?

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...OPEN/crack.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...rackdetail.JPG

All comments gratefully received!

IJM

The top bit may be OK if it's a wooden lintel, but I can just see that
the crack seems to have continued, up the wall. The sill looks to be
concrete or stone, and the right hand side also showing cracks beneath.
It *may* just be the render. Overall, though, as some one has mentioned,
it does need to be monitored, and I think some advice from a specialist
surveyor would be worthwhile.


Get at least 3 quotes and ring the insurance Co.?


If it were me, I'd hold the contact with the insurance company. People
I've known have had no end of trouble with insurance and premiums,
buying and selling, once subsidence however minor is reported. That
said, a specialist surveyor may give some guidance about compensation if
the felled tree wasn't on your land.

--
Cheers, Rob

Chris Hogg wrote:
On Sat, 21 May 2016 14:44:33 +0100, profIJM wrote:

How would you approach this repair job?

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...OPEN/crack.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...rackdetail.JPG

All comments gratefully received!

IJM

Fill it, paint it, forget it.

Is the correct answer.

On Saturday, 21 May 2016 17:17:45 UTC+1, RJH wrote:
On 21/05/2016 15:29, jim wrote:
profIJM Wrote in message:

Get at least 3 quotes and ring the insurance Co.?


If it were me, I'd hold the contact with the insurance company. People
I've known have had no end of trouble with insurance and premiums,
buying and selling, once subsidence however minor is reported. That
said, a specialist surveyor may give some guidance about compensation if
the felled tree wasn't on your land.

Involving an insurer is a fool's choice until you've determined that it's worsening.


NT

On 21/05/2016 19:08, wrote:
On Saturday, 21 May 2016 17:17:45 UTC+1, RJH wrote:
On 21/05/2016 15:29, jim wrote:
Wrote in message:

Get at least 3 quotes and ring the insurance Co.?


If it were me, I'd hold the contact with the insurance company. People
I've known have had no end of trouble with insurance and premiums,
buying and selling, once subsidence however minor is reported. That
said, a specialist surveyor may give some guidance about compensation if
the felled tree wasn't on your land.

Involving an insurer is a fool's choice until you've determined that it's worsening.


NT

Besides which, the damage was probably already there before you took out
the policy!
--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

Many thanks to all those who commented on my crack - I am most grateful.
All will be taken into consideration.

Ta,
IJM

If you are in doubt I have found this online which tells you some common causes of subsidence... Causes Of Subsidence - Uretek