[Closed] Any structural engineers in?

I’d take some plaster off and see if the crack is in your block work or just in the plaster.

I’m not a structural engineer, mind!

Had a similar issue in a bathroom and spoke to a family member / surveyor who told me first step was to see if the crack was surface or structural.

I'm not a structural engineer but have a lot of building experience. The real clues will be outside water going where it shouldn't is the main culprit in most of these situations, broken drains, leaking down pipes etc, have a good look around before paying big bucks for an "expert"
I certainly wouldn't be panicking at this stage.

The answer is going you be yes.

Where is the window in relation yo corners of the house? Whats above? How old is the house etc. It looks like plastered walls, whats underneath, brick?

The blown plaster makes it look like its proper moved not just a wee surface crack.

When you say its developed, over how long? any external influence e.g. work in the garden, trees, change of drainage etc? seem to flow round the lintel but if they have developed quickly I would investigate further!

Also not an engineer!

It's this window:
Gutters replaced last year but no obvious signs of water getting in anywhere. No obvious cracks on the outside or bricks out of place..
Also had the fascia boards/soffits etc replaced last year.

Any issues opening or closing the window?

Is there a lintel above the window at all?

How old is the conservatory?

When you say its developed, over how long? any external influence e.g. work in the garden, trees, change of drainage etc?

Probably 12 months. No major garden work etc.

Any issues opening or closing the window?

No, both open fine.

How old is the conservatory?

At least 10 years old I think..

Hard to tell but it looks like the crack at the top right is stepped, i.e if you held a ruler across it the ruler would rock?

Seeing as you have that massive opening underneath where the bifolding doors close off the conservatory, I'd break out the hammer and bolster and take some plaster off.

Cracks vertically through bricks or the walls moving out of alignment are reasons to be concerned, hairline cracks following the mortar is less of an issue and can be settlement.

PS I'm not a qualified structural engineer, but I do have an armchair

If you're sure there's no sign of movement outside then I'd not be worried too much.
It looks like the internal wall has slipped very slightly for whatever reason.
(We've got a very similar crack around an upstairs socket from when we had a load bearing internal wall removed and replaced with big steels)

Initially I'd fill the cracks and then see if they open again at which point it's time to get Pro advice.

It's a [s] sticker[/s] wallpaper?

Not a structural engineer, but

It's possible that when the original windows were replaced, their frames were providing some structural support, and the new UPVC windows might not be up to it. It used to be a common problem with pre-war houses, though usually on ground floor windows. Not uncommon to see stepped cracks filled in above windows on pre war housing estates.

Was the ground floor opening into the conservatory made larger?
Were the origional windows Crittall type?
Is the crack wider nearer the ceiling?

Was the ground floor opening into the conservatory made larger?
Were the origional windows Crittall type?
Is the crack wider nearer the ceiling?

Don't know
Don't know
No, widest near the window.

Are you in Bedfordshire?  Might be quake damage if so 🙂

Structural engineer here

I cant see the photo in your second post, so just going by the google drive photos

If it is just this area, and theres nothing on the outside, or below, I'd be saying either redecorate it, or stick some crack monitors across it, see if the crack comes back or gets bigger over the next 6 months.

Properly document it - eg photos of the crack, ideally with a ruler next to it, and the date you took them.

Then get a structural engineer.

Find your house on here, and tell me what the soil is:

http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain3d/

Structural Engineer here...

...but I work on Aircraft and all I can tell you is that it's not going to fly. 🙂

OK, will do some measurement and monitor it.

Find your house on here, and tell me what the soil is:

Superficial deposits: Head - Clay, silt, sand and gravel. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 2.588 million years ago and the present during the Quaternary period.

More information

Bedrock geology: Sidmouth Mudstone Formation - Mudstone. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 250 and 228.4 million years ago during the Triassic period.

This is a good book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Has-Your-House-Got-Cracks/dp/0727730894

Daffy - didn't the De Havilland Comet's problems start from cracks around the windows. That didn't end well. Hope stevied's house doesn't catastophically explode in a similar manner.

Another structural engineer here. I can't see your second photo I'm so missing a lot of context. How old is the house and what are the walls made from (inner and outer skins)?

It could just be shrinkage of the inner skin, with the crack appearing at the weak point. I'll go with ayjayduobleyou's suggestion pending any better info.

Superficial deposits: Head – Clay, silt, sand and gravel. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 2.588 million years ago and the present during the Quaternary period.

More information

Bedrock geology: Sidmouth Mudstone Formation – Mudstone. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 250 and 228.4 million years ago during the Triassic period.

doesn't seem like you are in a major problem area, although I've always found that they hedge their bets somewhat with "Clay, silt, sand and gravel"

Yeah its basically "something which isn't rock"