Massive crack

[Craig]

We have just stripped part of the lower mansard roof to reline the gutter behind the parapet wall, and found that the rear wall of the house is not attached to the party wall (between our terrace and next doors) anymore.

We were there to do a bit of pinning as there was some cracking, but now it seems its going to need a whole lot more pinning.

So the roofers have cleared off and our very nice lady bricklayer starts another job in 3 weeks...

Ho hum.

 

[Gervase]

Bum indeed.
That sounds nasty. Is it weathertight, does it go all the way down and is it still moving? Sounds like a a job for a structural engineer.

 

[middi]

I agree with Grevase, if you think this is serious and unable to make a decision as to how to proceed, you need a site visit from a structural engineer.

 

[Craig]

It certainly goes about 6 to 10 down the wall - its a pretty common complaint on these houses (that old trick of saving money on good bricks by cutting the headers in half) linked to poor maintenance for 200 years has done for it. I don’t think its moving much, but still, you wouldn’t want to leave it...

I have called an engineer - our lady bricky described him "as a pinner" whilst she was a "rebuilder". Will be interesting to see who comes out top.

 

[andrew gayton]

was it ever tied? just a straight joint abuttment??

 

[Craig]

My guess is that it relied upon the brickwork interface between the party wall and the rear wall, plus the floor joist/wall plate joint (though I don’t think there is much of a mechanical fix here).

Engineer’s suggestion is to rebuild the section of the party wall that is totally detached and part of the parapet, tie in with Spiroties the inner and outer leafs of brick work where the brickwork has good integrity but the leaves have separated and fix the joists to the wall & wall plate with L brackets.

By heck, those Georgians dint half do stuff on the cheap...

 

[Nemesis]

It's been standing longer than many a more expensive modern building might...

PS this may require LBC? Especially if it involves some element of demolition?